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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Monday 10 August 2015
‘Fantastic Four’ bombs with $26.2M; ‘Mission’ again tops
JAKE COYLE Productions, which is plan-
AP Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Holly- ning a slate of mid-level
wood’s summer has had
runaway sensations (“Ju- budget films.
rassic World”) and heart-
warming hits (“Inside Out”). The Meryl Streep rocker
It now has its fiasco.
“Fantastic Four,” 20th Cen- “Ricki and the Flash” de-
tury Fox’s attempt to re-
boot the superhero team- buted with $7 million on
up franchise, debuted with
just $26.2 million at North 1,603 screens for Sony’s
American theaters over
the weekend, according TriStar Pictures. The film,
to studio estimates Sunday.
The result was bad enough directed by Jonathan
that last week’s leader,
Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Im- Demme and co-starring
possible — Rogue Nation,”
held the top spot with $29.4 Kevin Kline, will expand in
million in its second week.
The overwhelming flop for coming weeks. Worse off
“Fantastic Four” is a rare
humbling for a Marvel su- was Aardman Entertain-
perhero film, which often
gross more than $20 mil- ment’s “Shaun the Sheep
lion in just one night. The
film has been savaged by Movie” from Lionsgate.
critics and was dogged
by reports of creative diffi- Though reviews were
culties. Director Josh Trank
even distanced himself good, the film, based on
from it Thursday in a tweet
he soon-after deleted in the animated British TV se-
which he alluded to studio
interference: “A year ago I ries, earned only $4 million
had a fantastic version of
this,” he wrote. over the weekend and
“Fantastic Four” was Fox’s
attempt to revive a fran- $5.6 million since opening
chise just 10 years after
its launch. But those ear- This photo provided by courtesy Twentieth Century Fox shows, The Thing, from left, Michael B. Wednesday.
lier films — neither of which Jordan as Johnny Storm, Miles Teller as Dr. Reed Richards, and Kate Mara as Sue Storm, in a Estimated ticket sales for
critics or fans much liked —
opened twice as well. The scene from the film, “Fantastic Four.” Friday through Sunday at
2005 original debuted with
$56.1 million and the 2007 Associated Press U.S. and Canadian the-
sequel, “Fantastic Four: The
Silver Surfer,” opened with designed with a youthful social media conspired to Rebecca Hall, opened in aters, according to Rent-
$58.1 million. bent, enlisting Trank (who suppress the opening,” Ar- third with $12 million. Made rak. Where available, the
The reboot, made for $120 had only 2012’s “Chroni- onson said. for just $5 million, it’s a latest international num-
million and with a massive cle” under his belt) and a Paul Dergarabedian, se- strong start for the new STX bers for Friday through Sun-
marketing budget, was cast of Miles Teller, Michael nior media analyst for box- day are also included. q
B. Jordan, Kate Mara and office tracker Rentrak, also Big names join Broadway revival
Jamie Bell. A sequel, al- pointed to social media’s
ready scheduled for 2017, blazingly fast spread of of musical ‘Shuffle Along’
now seems very unlikely. bad buzz. The film didn’t
“Obviously, we’re disap- fare much better abroad, AP Drama Writer ‘’Ragtime” and “King Hed-
pointed,” said Chris Aron- where it earned $34.1 mil- NEW YORK (AP) — Some ley II.” Henry has nomina-
son, head of distribution for lion. “The fanboys and the of Broadway’s best will tions for “The Scottsboro
Fox. “We’ll do a post-mor- fangirls listen to each other join Audra McDonald in a Boys” and “Violet.” The
tem. As we do with every- via social media. They also revival of the 1920s musi- casting was announced
thing that doesn’t work out, respect the filmmakers who cal “Shuffle Along,” includ- Sunday. “Shuffle Along”
we’ll try to figure out why are making these films. ing Brian Stokes Mitchell, was one of the first Broad-
and move forward.” That could have an impact Billy Porter, Brandon Victor way musicals to be written
As late as Tuesday, Fox had making the movie,” Derga- Dixon and Joshua Henry. and directed by African-
tracking data that suggest- rabedian said. “This shows Two have Tonys, the others Americans. With music and
ed the opening the indus- you how powerful the so- are Tony nominated. Dixon lyrics by noted compos-
try was widely expecting: cial chatter can be.” played Harpo in “The Color ers Eubie Blake and Noble
about $40 million to $50 Several other less high-pro- Purple” and Berry Gordy in Sissle, it had Broadway’s
million. But the fortunes for file releases fared better “Motown.” Porter won a first jazz score that included
the film seemed to turn with over the weekend. Tony for his performance as the songs “(I’m Just) Wild
the unusually bad critical The suspense thriller “The Lola in “Kinky Boots.” Mitch- About Harry,” ‘’Love Will
reaction. “The combina- Gift,” directed by co-star ell won a Tony for “Kiss Find a Way,” ‘’Bandana
tion of less-than-desirable Joel Edgerton and star- Me Kate” and got nods Days” and “Shuffle Along.”
reviews and the power of ring Jason Bateman and for “Man of La Mancha,” q
