‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Slicing Towards $400 Million Globally in Biggest R-Rated Opening Ever

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Movie goers are buzzing about “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Marvel’s latest summer blockbuster. And for good reason. The threequel in the Deadpool franchise is receiving rave reviews and its poised to have the biggest opening for an R-Rate film … ever.  Directed by Shawn Levy and co-written by Ryan Reynolds, the film starring the latter and Hugh Jackman as the titular Wolverine is ripping through box office records this weekend with the massive potential $400 million global opening. This eye popping figure suggests it could become the highest-grossing R-rated opening in history.

Get this, by the number “Deadpool & Wolverine” has already garnered $65 million from international markets leading into the weekend, with an additional estimated $55 million domestically on Friday, including Thursday’s early screenings. Factoring in China’s opening numbers, the total approaches $130 million, excluding Friday’s international figures outside of China. Updated numbers are expected soon.

As with most franchises, it is likely that international ticket sales from Friday will surpass domestic sales, potentially pushing the film toward $200 million by the end of the day, with two more days of weekend business still to go.

If you seen the teasers and trailers, Reynolds and Jackman have expertly captured the essence of their characters, resonating deeply with audiences. Their combined efforts have met with overwhelming approval from fans, who are responding with enthusiasm and strong ticket sales.

When thinking of the film’s box office potential, a $400 million opening could lead to $1.08 billion, based on the 2.7x multiplier average of the first two films. However, given the MCU tie-in and the larger scale of this production, a 3x multiplier could push revenues to around $1.2 billion, positioning “Deadpool & Wolverine” as a strong contender for the 2024 box office crown.

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Kevin Hart’s Former Assistant Seeks Dismissal from Extortion Lawsuit

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Back in January, comedian Kevin Hart filed a lawsuit against his former personal assistant, Miesha Shakes, and gossip vlogger Tasha K, accusing them of attempting to extort him. Now, Shakes is fighting back, seeking dismissal from the lawsuit.

In Touch reports that Miesha Shakes has asked a Los Angeles judge to remove her from the bombshell civil extortion case. According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Shakes denies all allegations of wrongdoing brought against her by Hart, 45.

Last year, Hart sued Shakes over an interview she did with YouTuber Tasha K. He claimed that Shakes made false statements and disclosed information she learned during her employment with him, which violated a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed after leaving her position. Shakes worked for Hart from 2017 to 2020.

Shakes’ legal team argued that Hart “failed to plead specifically which statements they contend are false and defamatory or which facts [he] contends are true and an invasion of privacy.” They also stated that Hart’s claims are barred “because the statements challenged as false and defamatory, to the extent they can be determined, are substantially true.”

Moreover, Shakes asserted that her statements were not defamatory and “constitute expressions of protection opinion.” She claimed she did not act with malice and did not cause Hart any damage.

Regarding the NDA, Shakes’ lawyer argued that the contract was “invalid/illegal and cannot be enforced based on mental or physical incapacity which prevented [Miesha] from having the legal capacity to enter into or understand the alleged contract(s).”

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WATCH: ‘City of God: The Fight Rages On’ Trailer; HBO Sequel Series to Iconic 2002 Brazilian Film 

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HBO has unveiled the official trailer for “City of God: The Fight Rages On”, a highly anticipated sequel series to the acclaimed 2002 Brazilian film “City of God.”

Full stop, ya’ll remember the movie “City of God.” The film was dark, thrilling and gave an elevated, dramatized look into the gritty life within the Brazilian favelas.

Some consider “City of God” a cinematic masterpiece. Let that sit there. 

Get this, HBO is setting the six-episode series is set twenty years after the events of the original film and brings back beloved characters like Rocket (Wilson), Berenice, Bradock, Cinthia, Barbantinho, and Melonhead. The series will use flashbacks, featuring excerpts from the original film, to delve into the memories and emotional journeys of the protagonists.

Here’s the description from HBO:

CITY OF GOD: THE FIGHT RAGES ON is an adapted continuation of the literary work of Paulo Lins and will tell the story of its characters taking as a starting point the work of the photographer Buscapé. The plot unfolds  in the early 2000s when the release of a young drug dealer from prison puts Cidade de Deus back into dispute. Residents find themselves trapped between drug traffickers, militias and public authorities, but the need to escape this cycle makes the community unite to face the oppressor.

Let’s get into the cast that includes returning actors Alexandre Rodrigues, Roberta Rodrigues, Thiago Martins, Sabrina Rosa, Kiko Marques, Edson Oliveira, and newcomers Andréia Horta, Marcos Palmeira, Eli Ferreira, Luellem de Castro, Jefferson Brasil, Otávio Linhares, Rafael Lozano, Leandro Daniel, and Luiz Bertazzo. It also features debuting talents from Rio de Janeiro communities like Cidade de Deus, Vidigal, and Mangueira.

Behind the camera the series is produced by O2 Filmes, “City of God: The Fight Rages On” is directed by Aly Muritiba, who also co-writes the series with Sérgio Machado, Renata Di Carmo, Armando Praça, Estevão Ribeiro, and Rodrigo Felha. Bruno Costa serves as the second director, with Mariano Cesar, Anouk Aaron, and Mônica Albuquerque as executive producers for Warner Bros. Discovery.

“City of God: The Fight Rages On” is on deck to premiere on Sunday, August 25, at 8 p.m. on HBO Latino and will also be available for streaming on Max.

Check out the the trailer below:

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Tyler Perry Says Listening to Critics of Your Success Will ‘Find Yourself in Hell’

Tyler Perry Puts $800M Studio Expansion on Hold After Seeing Possibilities of OpenAI

Tyler Perry is currently riding the wave of success and criticism from his latest film, Divorce in the Black. The film pulled in a horrible Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 0% in its early release days, with various film industry sectors being critical of the creation. Perry has heard enough, addressing the critics.

“You gotta drown all that out,” Perry said. “If you let somebody talk you out of a place that God has put you in, you are going to find yourself in Hell.

“I know what I’m doing is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Once again, Tyler Perry is set to write and direct another project. In his robust deal with Netflix, the mogul is doing just that with his upcoming drama “Straw,” starring Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, and Teyana Taylor. Nice cast! 

The story seems interesting enough and centers on a single mother who faces a series of unfortunate events that lead her down an unexpected path. 

Check out more from the official logline: “She becomes entangled in a situation she never imagined and finds herself at the center of suspicion in a world that seems indifferent to her existence.”

The cast includes Glynn Turman, Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, and Mike Merrill. Perry will produce the movie alongside Angi Bones and Tony Strickland. 

As mentioned “Straw” is part of Perry’s ongoing creative collaboration with Netflix, the world’s biggest streaming studio, under a multi-year, first-look deal, which includes other projects like “The Six Triple Eight” and the drama series “Beauty in Black.”

ICYMI, Perry’s recent works include “Mea Culpa,” “A Fall From Grace,” “A Jazzman’s Blues,” and “A Madea Homecoming.” Henson, who recently appeared in “The Color Purple,” is represented by CAA, M88, R&CPMK, and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole. Taylor, known for “A Thousand and One” and “Coming 2 America,” is represented by WME, Taylormade Management Group, and The Lede Company.

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Janelle Monáe’s Nonprofit Fem The Future Will Uplifts Aspiring Filmmakers

Janelle Monáe to Join the Cast of an Upcoming Harriet Tubman Biopic

Multi-hyphenate artist, actor and philanthropist Janelle Monáe’s Fem The Future nonprofit and Made In Her Image have come together to help a group of aspiring filmmakers. Let’s, stop and clap that out. Inspiring the youth from a position on influence is always a great thing. 

Get this, twenty-five young women, girls of color and genderqueer individuals who previously attended courses, workshops and mentorship programs via the Open Lens Film Lab will premiere their short films in August. 

Topics range from gender identity to self-confidence. All inclusive – awesome.

“Looking ahead in our industry, Made In Her Image and similar organizations are crucial to its growth. The students and their films exemplify deep creativity and steadfast dedication, nurtured through the Open Lens Lab. This spirit has been at the core of Fem The Future since its inception,” Monáe said in a statement. 

She went on to say:

“Supporting MIHI aligns with Fem The Future’s commitment to uplift and amplify marginalized voices in the creative industry while planting essential seeds for new horizons in filmmaking. We’re honored to support MIHI’s Open Lens Film Labs.”

“Fem The Future’s support will allow Made In Her Image to not only amplify the work of these young filmmakers but to also sustain our ongoing mission,” added Malakai, the founder of Made In Her Image. 

Malakai also said:

“We’re creating a platform to engage, empower, and mentor future artists and filmmakers to elevate their work through their own perspectives.”

Good for those filmmakers and let’s give Janelle Monáe her flowers for paying it foward, for everybody.

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Tessa Thompson Set to Star and Executive Produce ‘His & Hers’ a Murder Mystery Series for Netflix

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Tessa Thompson has her next television project on deck. The “Creed” star is set to star in and executive produce a new thriller series for Netflix, adapted from Alice Feeney’s 2020 novel “His & Hers.”

If you haven’t read the book, the thrilling series centers on a woman who was once a successful journalist but is drawn back into investigative work due to a murder. Unlike the book, which is set in London, the series will be based in Atlanta, aligning with the trend of Hollywood productions moving to Georgia. Atlanta as the backdrop of a murder mystery? You have our full attention!

Check out the official synopsis:

“Set in the sweltering heat of Atlanta, Anna [Thompson] lives in haunting reculsivity, fading away from her friends and career as a journalist. But when she overhears about a murder in Dahlonega–the sleepy town where she grew up–Anna is snapped back to life, pouncing on the case and searching for answers. Detective Jack Harper is strangely suspicious of her involvement, chasing her into the crosshairs of his own investigation. There are two sides to every story: his and hers, which means someone is always lying.”

“I am beyond elated to be collaborating with a filmmaker I have long admired and an incredible team to make a fresh offering in a genre that I can never get enough of,” Thompson shared with Netflix’s Tudum. “From the second I heard what Will was imagining doing with Alice Feeney’s brilliant book, to the moment I visited the town where our story is set, I was hooked.”

We’re elated too. I mean these crime shows are all the rave right now.

Leading the charge behind the camera is Dee Johnson, known for “Nashville” and “Fellow Travelers”, who will serve as showrunner and write alongside “Ozark” creator Bill Dubuque. Executive producers include Jessica Chastain, Kelly Carmichael, Kishori Rajan, Kristen Campo, and Thompson. William Olroyd will write and direct the first episode.

This sounds like a goodie. We’re hoping to hear more soon! Stay tuned. 

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WATCH: ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist’ Trailer Starring Kevin Hart in Limited Series Based on True Story

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Get this, ”Fight Night” is adapted from the acclaimed iHeart true-crime podcast of the same name. It delves into the real events that took place in Atlanta on October 26, 1970. Will Packer, who produced the podcast, also serves as an executive producer for the series.

Kevin Hart plays Chicken Man, a hustler striving to make his mark among elite Black mafia members, gangsters, and powerful figures not just in Georgia but nationwide. He throws an afterparty to celebrate the historic fight between Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry, marking Ali’s return to boxing after being banned for refusing military draft. FYI, that was a big deal back then.

We won’t say to much but the party takes a disastrous turn when attendees are robbed in what is known as Atlanta’s most audacious underworld heist, with Chicken Man suspected of masterminding the plot. He must then work to prove his innocence as law enforcement seeks to bring justice to the victims.

Don Cheadle plays Detective J.D. Hudson, who faces the complex challenge of investigating the heist, especially since some victims are also criminals. That’s a good role for Cheadle, he has played a great cop or federal agent in several roles in the past. 

So the podcast that inspired the limited series, first aired back in 2020, and provides the storyline:

“On October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali triumphantly returned to boxing in Atlanta, Georgia. But the next morning, national headlines featured one of the biggest heists in history. At the center was a hustler named ‘Chicken Man.’ Fans arrived in Rolls Royces from New York City, wearing vibrant fur coats and diamonds. They entered the arena with engraved invitations, cheering when the first-round bell rang, minus two empty seats. After the fight, many top Black mafia leaders headed to Chicken Man’s house for a celebration, only to be met by sawed-off shotguns. On FIGHT NIGHT, J.D. Hudson, one of Atlanta’s first Black detectives, who helped lead Ali into the ring, was assigned to the robbery investigation by the police chief the next day. When asked years later, ‘When did the investigation end?’ J.D. replied, ‘When everybody was dead.’”

Behind the camera are Shaye Ogbonna and Jason Horwitch who serve as creators and showrunners. Executive producers include Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, Will Packer and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media, and Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts, alongside Jeff Keating, Lars Jacobson, Hart, and Packer.

Watch the trailer for “Fight Night” here.

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Wesley Snipes Takes Aim at Marvel and Patton Oswalt Amid Blade Recasting Controversy

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For the past few months, ex-Blade star Wesley Snipes has been vocal about his displeasure with Marvel’s decision to recast his iconic character in the franchise. This week, Snipes turned his attention to his Blade: Trinity co-star, Patton Oswalt, sparking further controversy.

Snipes took to Instagram to express his frustrations, posting a cryptic message that seemed to call out Oswalt directly. He wrote: “Lordy Lordy Lordy, u mean to tell me PO was a ‘Pinocchio’ all along… and that’s the so-called ‘reliable source’? Well now ‘baby wipe’ anyone? #Blade #MarvelStudios #daywalkerklique

The post has left fans speculating about the underlying tension between Snipes and Oswalt, as well as the broader implications for the Blade franchise. Snipes, who portrayed the titular vampire hunter in the original Blade trilogy, has been openly critical of Marvel Studios’ decision to reboot the character with a new actor.

While Marvel has yet to respond to Snipes’ latest comments, the actor’s dissatisfaction with the franchise’s direction is clear.

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WATCH: Lady Gaga Makes Debut as Harley Quinn in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Trailer

Lady Gaga Makes Debut as Harley Quinn in 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Trailer

Welcome to the world of Joker: Folie à Deux. The sequel to the Joaquin Phoenix-led film will bring you to the latest story of the Batman villain, legally known as Arthur Fleck. The second film will introduce Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the lover and crime tag team partner of The Joker, who will run wild throughout Gotham City. What’s different in this film is that there is a heavy outpouring of music and dance in the film. You can see the trailer below.

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‘Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys’ Premieres On A&E August 25

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A&E presents “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” the first official documentary about the iconic Grammy®-nominated musician and legendary founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

Co-directed by Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning Director Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Black Art: In The Absence of Light) alongside his son Jason Pollard (Get Me Roger Stone, Bitchin’ The Sound and Fury of Rick James), the two-hour special premieres Sunday, August 25 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E.”Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” Premieres Sunday, August 25.

Produced by Pulse Films (Beastie Boys Story, Meet Me in the Bathroom), Four Screens, and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment, “Ol Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” features access to his closest friends and family, including Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, ODB’s wife Icelene Jones, his son Bar-Sun Jones, his parents, recording industry executives, and more.

With never-before-seen personal archive shot by his wife, Icelene, this culture-defining special humanizes ODB as a man, a father, and a husband like never before. This definitive documentary provides an intimate picture of ODB’s life and reflects on the lasting impact he had on music and culture.

Born Russell Jones in 1968 in Brooklyn, NY, ODB developed a unique persona and rhyme style that set him apart from his contemporaries. In his short 35 years of life and long after his passing, ODB has had a significant influence on a whole generation of fans and performers.

The documentary centers on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004. Charting his meteoric rise and heart-breaking fall, the film interweaves a modern narrative that looks back at his trauma-filled childhood to examine how it influenced the man and artist he would become.

A celebration of his artistry and legacy, the documentary is an unflinching look at the complexities of his life including addiction, adultery, fame, mental illness, sudden wealth, race and criminal justice, and asks the question of just how complicit the media and music industry were in hastening his demise.

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