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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Wednesday 2 March 2016

‘Deadpool’ tops ‘Gods of

Egypt’ at box office

DERRIK J. LANG Butler as a rebellious Egyp- onsgate issued a separate This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Ryan
AP Entertainment Writer tian god debuted in sec- statement that said they Reyonlds, left, and Morena Baccarin in a scene from the film,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A ond place with $14 million. are deeply committed to “Deadpool.”
group of ancient Egyptian The film, which reportedly making films that reflect the
deities couldn’t take down cost $140 million and also diversity of their audiences Associated Press
the merc with a mouth. stars Brenton Thwaites and and pledged to do better.
Marvel’s antihero block- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, is Other newcomers that
buster “Deadpool” con- Hollywood’s first major flop failed to topple “Dead-
tinued to dominate North of the year. pool” this weekend includ-
American movie theaters “Lionsgate went for it, and ed the feel-good Olympic
over the weekend, earning I think the unpredictability tale “Eddie the Eagle” in
an estimated $31.5 million of this marketplace made fifth place with $6.3 million
in its third week and best- it too tough for them,” said and the heist romp “Triple
ing newcomer “Gods of Paul Dergarabedian, com- 9” in sixth place with $6.1
Egypt,” according to com- Score’s senior media ana- million.
Score estimates Sunday. lyst. “I think we’ll probably “The Revenant” was the
The total domestic haul for have to wait until ‘Batman only Academy Award
20th Century Fox’s comic v Superman’ to see anoth- contender to crack the
book adaptation starring er massive opening week- weekend’s Top 10 with $3.8
Ryan Reynolds as Marvel’s end.” million in its 10th week of
foul-mouthed mercenary “Gods of Egypt” faced release. The survival epic
now stands at $285.6 mil- backlash last year for cast- leads Oscar nominees with
lion, making it the third ing mostly white actors in a 12 nods at Sunday’s 88th
highest-grossing R-rated film based on Egyptian my- annual ceremony, includ-
film behind “American thology. ing best picture, best actor
Sniper” and “The Passion of The film’s director Alex for Leonardo DiCaprio, best
the Christ.” Proyas, who was born in supporting actor for Tom
Lionsgate’s “Gods of Egypt, apologized in a Hardy and best director for
Egypt” featuring Gerard statement in November. Li- Alejandro G. Inarritu.q

It’s 2 more years of ‘NCIS,’ with

star Mark Harmon onboard

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s

no end in sight for CBS’

long-running mega-hit

“NCIS.” The network says

it has renewed the se-

ries for two more seasons,

and that series star and

executive producer Mark

Harmon has signed a new

two-year deal of his own.

The action-crime series,

now in its 13th season, re-

mains the most popular

drama on TV.

This season it is averaging This image released by CBS shows Mark Harmon in a scene from
“NCIS.” CBS says it has renewed the series for two more seasons,
more than 20 million view- and that series star and executive producer Mark Harmon has
signed a new two-year deal of his own.
ers each week.
Associated Press
“NCIS” premiered in 2003.

During the 2009-2010 sea-

son, it clinched its status

as TV’s top-rated scripted two spin-offs, set in Los An- include Pauley Perrette,

drama series. geles and New Orleans. Rocky Carroll and David

Meanwhile, it has spawned Along with Harmon, stars McCallum.