Those allegedly inflated “Speed Racer” box-office numbers? Oh they were inflated like an air balloon alright. Warner Bros. originally estimated that the film made some $20 million for a second place finish at the box-office this past weekend. Other studios cried foul at their numbers and it’s all blown up in WB’s face. The film actually only grossed $18.6 million and has been demoted to the third spot – laughably behind an Ashton Kutcher rom-com even he bet against. That’s a $1.6 million dollar difference and some seriously funny math. A disastrous showing for WB’s first tent pole film of the summer becomes that more embarrassing. [Associated Press]
“Speed Racer” lead Emile Hirsch seems so embarrassed by this flop that he’s left his talent agency reps in a huff. [Deadline Hollywood]
Production on David O. Russell’s “Nailed” has resumed. The film was shut down temporarily Friday when unions like IATSE and SAG had not been properly paid. The “cash crunch” forced the Screen Actors Guild to ask the lead actors – Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel – to leave the film until the matter was resolved, but the crisis seems averted and the shoot is up and running again. Nikki Finke seems to think this problem is systemic in Hollywood at the moment and effecting other films currently with production woes. Prepare for an obnoxious “told you so” if this proves even remotely true. [Variety]
The Patti Smith documentary “Patti Smith: Dream Of Life” has found a distrib in Palm Pictures. The film will come out later this summer – starting August 6 in New York – and like we reported a week ago, will be on dvd early next year. The doc will be on video on demand as well for those too lazy to hit the theaters this summer. [Variety]
The Broadway drama “Passing Strange” will be the first musical to have its soundtrack released early on Itunes (May 27) almost a month before it hits CD in July. [Variety]
Remember “Fraggle Rock”? Jim Henson’s series about Muppets that lived in caves? The Weinstein company is going to be turning the beloved kids TV show into a live-action musical feature. [Entertainment Weekly] Should Jason Segel be worried?
