On this episode of Collider Movie Talk (May 31st, 2016) Mark Ellis, Kristian Harloff, Jon Schnepp, Clarke Wolfe, Ashley Mova discuss the following:

  • Box Office Report (Brought to you by AMC Theatres)
  • Tom Hiddleston in talks to play James Bond in Bond 25
  • The Rock confirmed for Shane Black’s Doc Savage
  • First image of The Rock’s Hobb’s character from Fast 8 released
  • Opening this week (Brought to you by AMC Theatres)
  • Mail Bag

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After the long holiday weekend, it’s time for the weekend box office report brought to you by our friends at AMC theatres. Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse and Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass squared off over Memorial Day weekend with a clear winner being crowned in X-Men: Apocalypse. The latest mutant adventure topped the weekend earning $65.3 million dollars over three days and $80 million over four days for an easy No. 1 spot. The other wide release, Alice Through the Looking Glass, took in $26.9 million over the three-day weekend, with a total of $34.1 over the four-day weekend for the No. 2 spot; a not so favorable start for a film with an $170 million production budget. Sony’s The Angry Birds Movie took in $18.7 million for the three day and $24.6 million in four days for the No 3 spot, bringing its domestic total to $66.3 million. Captain America: Civil War took the No 4 spot with $15.1 million in three-days and $19.4 million for the four-day weekend. Universal's Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising rounded out the No. 5 spot, dropping a steep 58% for $9.2 million in three-day sales and an $11.4 million total for the four-day weekend.

Some major shake-ups happening in the world of James Bond. According to a report from Birth Movies Death, Tom Hiddleston is in talks for the 25th James Bond film. At the same time, Skyfall and Spectre director Sam Mendes, ruled out a return to the director chair, telling reporters at the Hay Festival of Literature in Wales that he thinks its time for somebody else to take over directing. Current Bond actor Daniel Craig has yet to confirm his departure from the iconic role, with previous reports claiming the actor turned down a $68 million dollar offer to stay on - after he previously said he would rather "slash my wrists" than reprise the role. BMD also states that Hiddleston is in 'advanced talks' to take over from Craig. Elsewhere, however, Deadline reports that Fantastic Four actor Jamie Bell is being considered as a “a back-up” to current Bond actor Daniel Craig. No official word has been given from either actor or from the producers of the James Bond franchise.

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Dwayne Johnson recently finished his R-rated version of Baywatch, and is currently filming Fast 8 (with producer rumblings that his Hobbs character will get his own solo spinoff film soon). He is also attached to a Jumanji reboot and a San Andreas sequel. Now, thanks to his own Facebook page, add one more title to the list. Over the Memorial Day weekend, The Rock confirmed he is set to star in Shane Black‘s Doc Savage. Johnson relayed the information in a Facebook photo post that featured Shane Black and his co-writing team of Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry along with producer Hiram Garcia. In confirming the part, Johnson wrote that he's excited for the part, and that Doc Savage is "A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO!" 

BUY OR SELL

More news from the Rock, production on Fast 8 is well underway and now The Rock’s government bounty hunter Luke Hobbs has reported to the set. Johnson took to his social media, as he always does, to unveil the first look at the character; teasing a very different version of Hobbs than we’ve seen before. The new movie is directed by Straight Outta Compton’s F Gary Gray and stars Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gisbon, and Kurt Russell. The movie opens in theaters on April 14, 2017.


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Matthew Vaughn’s sequel to Kingsman continues to add impressive talent to its roster, with Jeff Bridges the latest actor announced to be joining the cast. Bridges let the world know he was coming on board, sharing a poster from the movie on his official Twitter account. Kingsman: The Golden Circle will see Taron Egerton reprising his role as the now-Kingsman Eggsy along with Mark Strong as his trusted tech support Merlin. Vaughn also added newcomers Julianne Moore as the film’s villain, along with Halle Berry and Channing Tatum as the American versions of Kingsman, The Statesman. The Golden Circle is slated for release on June 16, 2017. 

While the DC Extended Universe goes through a bit of a shake-up behind the scenes, filming on the Batman v Superman follow-up Justice League continues. Production on the Zack Snyder-directed team-up got underway in London two weeks after Batman v Superman hit theaters, with most of the main cast, naturally, confirming a return - with one part in particular not being announced, that of Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor. But now, we have an official confirmation from Eisenberg himself. Speaking at MCM London Comic-Con over the weekend, Eisenberg revealed that he indeed has a role in Justice League, telling fans he's waiting for his crack at it now that it's begun filming.

OPENING THIS WEEK

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael return in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O’Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell).

MAIL BAG 

Roberto Vazquez writes:

Hello Collider! Greetings from Monterrey Nuevo León Mexico! My question is about the new MCU Spiderman standalone movie. Do you guys think that we could see Spidey break the fourth wall like Deadpool did? In the comics he is always making jokes and talking to himself. Thank you for taking my question… You are doing an excellent job!

Garry Richardson writes

Hi Collider crew,

And greetings from the UK,

With Paramount dropping the lawsuit against the Star Trek: Axanar fan film I was wondering why they would have even brought one in the first place? Surely they want people interested in Star Trek and isn't it the same argument we use when discussing the DC/Marvel fan war, that both companies want the other to succeed? Are they simply concerned a fan funded movie could be better than their own perhaps?  I have seen the trailer for Axanar and it looks amazing and to be honest I am more pumped about watching that than I am about seeing Star Trek Beyond right now as I feel the new rebooted universe has lost the essence of what made Star Trek great. Could studios lose money if fan films begin to get better and better?  With film making technology becoming more available and cheaper for anyone to buy could we see in the future a war for audience numbers between major studios and fans?

Keep up the great work and live long and prosper

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