On this episode of Collider Movie Talk (March 23rd, 2016) Kristian Harloff, Jon Schnepp, and Mark Ellis discuss the following:

  • Tommy Wiseau to appear in The Room adaptation
  • Lionsgate cuts budget on final Divergent film, Ascendant, after disappointing box office
  • David Ayer on reasons he brought next movie Bright to Netflix
  • AMC Rewind
  • Mail Bag

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Image via Warner Bros.

Last night Warner Bros. released their newest trailer for Shane Black’s The Nice Guys. The movie, described as a black comedy with action, is set in 1970s Los Angeles, and tells the story of a down-on-his-luck private eye played by Ryan Gosling who must team up with a hit-man played by Russell Crowe to solve the case of a missing girl and the unrelated death of a porn star. The film also stars Kim Basinger and Ty Simpkins and opens in theaters May 20th.

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens firmly launched to box office success over at Disney, Lucasfilm and the Mouse House are now turning their attention to Indiana Jones, with another movie set for July of 2019. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Harrison Ford spoke about the fifth movie, saying he’s ready and is excited about the opportunity to work with Steven Spielberg again on one of his most famous characters. The chance to revisit a part that has brought great pleasure to so many people is something Ford doesn't want to pass up.

Warner Bros. has announced that Ben Affleck’s long-awaited directorial follow-up to Argo, Live by Night, has been given the Oscar friendly release date of October 20, 2017. Affleck writes, produces, directs and stars in the Dennis Lehane adaptation, which follows the son of a Boston police captain in the 1920s as he makes the rise from bootlegger to notorious gangster. Live by Night also stars Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, and Brendan Gleeson. 

BUY OR SELL


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Image via Greg Sestero

One of the more interesting films James Franco has attached himself to as an actor and director is The Disaster Artist; a movie about the true story behind the making of Tommy Wiseau’s infamous film The Room. Based on the non-fiction book of the same name, Franco is producing alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Collider’s own Steve Weintraub spoke with James Franco at the press day for The Adderall Diaries, and the filmmaker revealed that none other than Tommy Wiseau has a cameo in the movie, as part of a contractual obligation. On what it was like shooting opposite Tommy Wiseau, Franco said that it was a "surreal experience."

Following the disappointing box office opening of the recent Divergent Series sequel Allegiant this past weekend, a report by THR says that Lionsgate will reduce the budget to the last film, Ascendant. Though the report doesn’t reveal numbers, sources believe Allegiant’s budget was around $110 million, which could now drop to as low as $85 million dollars for Ascendant. The movie opened this past weekend to its lowest total yet in the series, with $29.1 million dollars; down 44% from the previous Insurgent’s $52 million opening. Age of Adaline director Lee Toland Krieger takes over Ascendant with a release set for June 9th, 2017.

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Image via Columbia

When news that Suicide Squad director David Ayer was attached to direct Will Smith and Joel Edgerton in a supernatural cop flick called Bright, reports soon afterwards stated the film was at the center of a massive bidding war among studios. Many assumed Ayer would agree to stay at Warner Bros. but, surprising everyone, he decided to take the movie to Netflix. In an interview with Deadline, the Bright director and co-writer said it all came down to creative freedom, saying the ability to make a really hard R-rated movie with vision and voice is the reason he chose the streaming platform. Ayer believes the future of the entertainment industry is with the on-demand services. He wants to be a part of bringing a flagship property to the world through the medium that is gaining popularity every day.


REWIND (Brought to you by AMC Theaters)

10 YEARS AGO - Inside Man starring Denzel Washington, Jodi Foster and Clive Owen, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector starring Larry the Cable Guy.

20 YEARS AGO - Flirting with Disaster staring Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette, Diabolique starring Sharon Stone and Chazz Palminteri.

MAIL BAG

Phillip C. writes:

Hey guys at Collider, If an author of a book series doesn't want the studio to continue there franchise as a movie or as a television show, does the author have the right to block the studio? And if they don't, are the studio still obligated to pay the author even though they never continued the story beyond the book series?

James writes:

Hello Collider team! I am a big fan of the show and I watch while I run on the treadmill to help pass the time. I was really looking forward to seeing Jeff Nichols' 'Midnight Special' this weekend, I love his previous films Take Shelter and Mud. I thought it opened everywhere on the 18th of March, only to be disappointed to find that it's only in limited release. (L.A. & New York) I live in Michigan and have no idea when it will play near me. My question is why do some films such as this open in a limited release and then slowly expand? Why doesn't the studio release the film wide to begin with? Thank you and keep up the great work you all do!

LIVE TWITTER QUESTIONS

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Image via Lucasfilm