Showbiz Sandbox 372: Firing Movie Directors Has Become A Complicated Business
June 26, 2017
Hollywood history is littered with tales of filmmakers being replaced on projects in the middle of production. But when LucasFilm fired directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller from the stand-alone Han Solo project with just a few weeks before principal photography was completed, it raised a host of questions that needs to be addressed by the industry at large.
For instance, who will receive directing credit now that Ron Howard has signed on to complete the movie? And how will residuals and profit participation be handled? In an age when blockbusters are being manufactured by media conglomerates with oversight committees, the frequency with which these questions need to be answered is likely to increase.
Meanwhile, in China the government may have its own questions about where Wanda is finding all the money to acquire cinema chains such as AMC, Odeon and Hoyts, not to mention production companies such as Legendary. There are rumors that the country’s banking regulators are looking into whether all that debt financing is on the up-and-up.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including Time Warner’s plans to start making shows for Snapchat, “NCIS” continues to win awards for being the most watched television series in the world and three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis announces his retirement from acting.
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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of June 25, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-june-25-2017-300479324.html
China Box Office: ‘Alien’ Flatlines Ahead of ‘Transformers’ Bonanza
http://chinafilminsider.com/alien-flatlnes/
‘Baby Driver’ Passes Chinese Censorship
http://chinafilminsider.com/baby-driver-passes-chinese-censors/
Disney Unveils First Chinese-Language Rom-Com
http://chinafilminsider.com/disney-unveils-first-chinese-language-rom-com/
Shanghai: Chinese Theater Giant Dadi Takes Stake in Tom Cruise’s ‘American Made’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shanghai-chinese-theater-giant-dadi-takes-stake-tom-cruises-american-made-1015503
China Probes Finances of Wanda, Fosun (Reports)
http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-probe-finance-wanda-fosun-reports-1202476785/
Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory
http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/24/spoonbenders/
My Glory Was I Had Such Friends by Amy Silverstein
http://bookfilter.com/2016/10/05/my-glory-was-i-had-such-friends-2/
B&N Reports Falling Sales in Fiscal 2017 Report
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/74050-b-n-sales-fell-in-challenging-fiscal-2017.html
Cannes Lions: Fox Adopting YouTube’s Six-Second Ad Format
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-lions-fox-adopting-youtubes-six-second-ad-format-1015041
YouTube Reveals New VR Format
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2017062347739/youtube-reveals-new-vr-format.html
Shocker! Daniel Day-Lewis Quits Acting
https://variety.com/2017/film/news/daniel-day-lewis-quits-acting-oscar-winner-1202472766/
Bill Cosby, Fresh From Trial, Plans Talks on Avoiding Assault Accusations
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/arts/television/bill-cosby-fresh-from-trial-plans-speeches-on-sex-assault-issues.html
Time Warner Strikes $100 Million Content Deal With Snap
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/time-warner-strikes-100-million-content-deal-snap-1014666
Inside Asian-American Group the Slants’ Supreme Court Free-Speech Win
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-asian-american-band-the-slants-scotus-win-w488615
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Will Reunite Season 4 Cast Members, Premiere in Late Summer
https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/bachelor-in-paradise-premiere-1202473423/
John Oliver, HBO Sued for Defamation by Coal Magnate
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/john-oliver-hbo-sued-for-defamation-by-coal-magnate-w489175
NCIS Remains the No. 1 Drama in the World
https://parade.com/580546/paulettecohn/ncis-remains-the-no-1-drama-in-the-world/
‘Star Wars’ Han Solo Spinoff: Lord & Miller Fired After Clashing With Kathleen Kennedy
https://variety.com/2017/film/news/star-wars-han-solo-kathleen-kennedy-director-fired-1202473919/
Ron Howard Steps in to Direct Han Solo Movie
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-han-solo-movie-ron-howard-steps-direct-1015674
Han Solo Film Firing May Force Directors Guild to Make Tough Choices
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/han-solo-firing-what-happens-star-wars-movie-1015658
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