“This isn’t a box office marketplace problem, this is a creative development problem,” declared one movie marketing vet this weekend over Warner Bros.' bold swing with Joker: Folie à Deux. At a production cost north of $190M, the sequel is coming in way below forecasts at $39M domestic, steeper than the $47M which was spotted by the town on Saturday. Warner reported $40M Sunday morning, but others see it lower. Amazingly, the studio’s overseas $80M+ projection held up with what’s coming in at an $81.1M opening. The total worldwide of $121.1M is still not the expected $140M+.
This sequel based on a DC Comics character is one of the lowest sequel openings in memory for a major franchise film based on a comic book. It’s certainly lower than the start of Marvel Studios’ bomb last fall, The Marvels, and that was $46.1M. More people saw Marvels at 3.3M admissions in its opening weekend versus Joker 2's 2.5M, per EntTelligence. >>>Full Analysis |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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The Scientology-Henson Non Deal - Despite reports in the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post and other outlets that the Henson family was unloading the 1917 lot originally known as the Charlie Chaplin Studios, the estate was very specific on Saturday that the lot would not be joining Scientology's extensive real estate portfolio any time soon. >>>Scientology Not Interested
Mission Accomplished - Helped by a loyal fan following and wide support among veterans, SEAL Team, which signed off Friday night, ran for seven seasons, a very respectable lifespan in this day and age, despite the show’s high cost and limited international sale potential given its focus on American military. >>>Linear & Digital Success Michael Rainey Jr. Q&A - In 2014, Michael Rainey Jr. was a young teen when he debuted as Tariq St. Patrick in the Starz drama series Power. Today, Rainey is older and wiser after a decade of growing up in front of audiences in two Power Universe series — including, most recently, Power Book II: Ghost where he survives to see another series finale. Could there be a third? >>> Read The Interview
Walzing With 'SmartLess' - Governor Tim Walz is expanding his media interview schedule. Kamala Harris’ vice presidential nominee will virtually sit down today with the SmartLess podcast guys — Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. >>>Set To Air In Next Week |
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Unlike Colin Farrell, Rhenzy Feliz didn’t have source material to peruse before accepting the role of Victor Aguilar — The Penguin’s man Friday who ends up saving his boss in episode 3 by driving a car into Nadia Maroni’s henchmen.
Victor is a new creation for HBO’s adaptation about the classic DC villain — which means Feliz, best known for voicing Camilo in Encanto and playing Alex Wilder in The Runaways — had a blank canvas to work from when it came time to create the perfect protégé for Oz.
At least, that’s what Feliz thought before trying out for the role. >>>Read The Interview |
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Anne Hathaway is returning for Princess Diaries 3. The actress confirmed the news on Instagram hours after Deadline exclusively reported that director Adele Lim had boarded the threequel.
Rachel McAdams is in talks to star in Sam Raimi‘s Send Help, the horror-thriller from 20th Century Studios, which he is producing and directing. Sources tell us that these negotiations are in early stages. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
250M - Users of Amazon MX Player, the streaming service launched after Amazon closed its acquisition of Indian rival MX Player |
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More News 🌩️ Hurricane Milton has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, with a dangerous surge threatening Tampa Bay and other parts of the west coast of Florida, a region still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
🦠 Al Pacino revealed he had a near-death experience after a bad reaction to steroids while being treated for Covid back in 2020. "I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone. Like that," he said, noting, "I didn’t have a pulse," before revealing he came back just as quickly. "Everybody was around me, and they said: ‘He’s back. He’s here.'”
📺 After premiering this Wednesday in the U.S., The CW has moved Sophie Turner's new true crime drama Joan to Fridays at 9pm ET starting Oct. 11, switching time slots with Inside the NFL.
🗣️ Elon Musk spoke at a Donald Trump rally, telling a massive crowd in Butler, PA that the election was a must-win situation. “As you can see, I am not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA,” Musk, wearing a black Make America Great Again hat, told the crowd.
🛑 Amazon MGM Studios is not proceeding with the Untitled J. Edgar project, one of the Bosch spinoffs that had been in development at the studio. Meanwhile, Amazon Freevee is not moving forward with the Who’s the Boss? sequel starring Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano. |
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Obituaries
🕯️ David Burnham, a former New York Times investigative reporter whose work uncovering corruption in the New York Police Department circa the 1970s inspired the twice Oscar-nominated Serpico, died last week following a choking incident at dinner. He was 91. 🕯️ Madonna‘s younger brother Christopher Ciccone, an artist, dancer and interior designer, died on Friday following a cancer diagnosis. He was 63. 🕯️ Allan Blye, a two-time Emmy winner best known for originating the role of Captain Blye on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, died Oct. 4 in Palm Desert, CA. He was 87. 🕯️ French actor Michel Blanc, best known for his roles in Le Splendid troupe comedy films like the 1978 cult classic Les Bronzés and its subsequent sequels, died early Oct. 4 at 72 of a heart attack following anaphylactic shock. 🕯️ Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Mon - Advertising Week New York begins; Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes
Tue - Oprah's Graceland special
Wed - BFI London Film Festival begins; Abbott Elementary S4 premiere
Fri - Yom Kippur
Sat - Deadline's Contenders Film: London |
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Call Her Kamala - Kamala Harris appeared on Alex Cooper's popular Call Her Daddy podcast on Sunday. When Cooper brought up the since-debunked claim by GOP candidate Donald Trump that there are women who are "executing babies" post-birth, Harris slammed her opponent as someone who is unfit to be president.
"He is suggesting that women in their 9th month of pregnancy are electing to have an abortion. Are you kidding?" she asked. |
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