Cinemark Theaters to Screen Zack Snyder's "Army of the Dead"

Cinemark To Show Army of the Dead in Theatres Across the U.S. Prior to Release on Netflix

The Zack Snyder film will have the widest release of its kind between the two companies

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cinemark Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s largest and most influential movie theatre companies, announced today that it will be showing Netflix’s Army of the Dead in both Cinemark XD and Digital Cinema auditoriums across its domestic circuit beginning May 14, 2021. Tickets are on sale now at Cinemark.com and on the Cinemark mobile app to watch the much-anticipated Zack Snyder film in theatres before it is available on Netflix on May 21, 2021.

    “Following the success of our limited-run in-theatre tests with Cinemark for films like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Midnight Sky and The Christmas Chronicles 2, we are looking forward to the wider theatrical release of Army of the Dead”

“Cinemark is excited to work with Netflix on our first wide release and provide movie lovers the opportunity to see Army of the Dead in our theatres across the U.S.,” said Justin McDaniel, Cinemark SVP of global content strategy. “Zack Snyder fans will love seeing the action in an immersive, cinematic environment with larger-than-life sight and sound technology.”

“Following the success of our limited-run in-theatre tests with Cinemark for films like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Midnight Sky, and The Christmas Chronicles 2, we are looking forward to the wider theatrical release of Army of the Dead,” said Spencer Klein, Head of Distribution at Netflix. “We are thrilled to offer consumers the opportunity to watch this highly anticipated film in theaters and on Netflix.”

Army of the Dead, starring Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Garret Dillahunt, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi and Samantha Win, follows a group of mercenaries who travel to Las Vegas to pull off a casino heist during a zombie apocalypse. The film will hit Cinemark theatres on Friday, May 14, across the exhibitor’s domestic circuit prior to being available on Netflix beginning Friday, May 21. Cinemark and Netflix have worked together on limited releases that put multiple films on the big screen. While this is the first wide release of a Netflix film at Cinemark theatres, the companies anticipate there will be more to come.

Cinemark XD is the world’s No. 1 exhibitor Premium Large Format brand, and each auditorium boasts the theatre’s biggest screen, a projector capable of 35 trillion colors and custom surround sound that makes moviegoers feel part of the on-screen action.

The Cinemark Standard:

The health and safety of employees, guests and communities is a top priority. All Cinemark theatres have The Cinemark Standard, greatly enhanced cleanliness, sanitizing and safety measures at every step of the moviegoing experience. Each theatre also has a designated Chief Clean and Safety Monitor on duty to ensure the highest standards of safety, physical distancing, cleanliness and sanitization.

Since beginning its phased reopening of U.S. theatres in June 2020, the exhibitor has consistently received 96 percent guest satisfaction with Cinemark protecting their health and safety. Moreover, a resounding number of those moviegoers polled stated they would return and would also recommend visiting Cinemark to a friend.

Employees undergo extensive training on all new protocols and wear face masks while working, in addition to completing a wellness check-in prior to every shift.

•     Each auditorium is extensively disinfected with products identified by the EPA to be effective in eliminating COVID-19.
•     Theatres have staggered showtimes and limited capacities to maximize physical distancing.
•     Seat-Buffering Technology automatically blocks seats adjacent to a party upon ticket purchase.
•     Face masks are mandatory for all guests within the theatre and may only be removed for eating and drinking in the auditoriums. Face masks are required for all employees.
•     All public and high-touch spaces are thoroughly sanitized frequently.
•     Ample supplies of seat wipes and hand sanitizer are available for customer use.
•     Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online and use contactless payment methods for a more contact-free experience.
•     Cinemark’s advanced, three-point air quality standard is designed to deliver an abundant supply of fresh outdoor air, maintain optimal circulation and eliminate pollutants.
•         Increased fresh-air rate. Cinemark is substantially raising the fresh-air rate of building HVAC systems by constantly utilizing supply fans to increase the total volume of fresh, outside air flowing into theatres.
•         Smart-flow air circulation design. Each auditorium within the theatre has its own HVAC system, which consistently diffuses fresh air from the ceiling down toward the floor where it is then returned to the filtration equipment, constantly refreshing the air.
•         Elimination of pollutants. Cinemark utilizes MERV filters in its HVAC systems to capture the majority of particles and pollutants.
  

About Cinemark Holdings, Inc.:

Headquartered in Plano, TX, Cinemark (NYSE: CNK) is one of the largest and most influential movie theatre companies in the world. Cinemark’s circuit, comprised of various brands that also include Century, Tinseltown and Rave, operates 531 theatres (331 U.S., 200 South and Central America) with 5,958 screens (4,507 U.S., 1,451 South and Central America) in 42 states domestically and 15 countries throughout South and Central America. Cinemark consistently provides an extraordinary guest experience from the initial ticket purchase to the closing credits, including Movie Club, the first U.S. exhibitor-launched subscription program; the highest Luxury Lounger recliner seat penetration among the major players; XD - the No. 1 exhibitor-brand premium large format; and expansive food and beverage options to further enhance the moviegoing experience. For more information go to https://investors.cinemark.com/ 

 

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The Trailer for the Upcoming Film "The Suicide Squad" Sets a Record

James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” Sets a New Record for Most Views of a Red Band Trailer in a Week

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures dropped a heavy-hitting red band trailer for the R-rated actioner “The Suicide Squad” that, in the spirit of the Squad, is kicking some serious ass. With 151.1 million views, “The Suicide Squad” has set a new record for most views of a red band trailer in a week and counting.

The trailer—the first released for the film—delivers intense action and wry humor, and global fans showed up in a big way in support of writer/director James Gunn’s vision. In total, the trailer trended in 40 markets on YouTube and 28 markets on Twitter.

About “The Suicide Squad”:
From writer/director James Gunn comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero action adventure “The Suicide Squad,” featuring a collection of the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup.

Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

The film stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).

Gunn (the “Guardian of the Galaxy” films) directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC. The film is produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda and Richard Suckle executive producing.

Gunn’s creative team includes director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), production designer Beth Mickle (“Captain Marvel”), editors Fred Raskin (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood”) and Christian Wagner (the “Fast & Furious” films) and Oscar-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”). The music is by John Murphy (“Kick-Ass”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atlas Entertainment/Peter Safran Production, A James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is set for release internationally beginning July 29, 2021 and in North America in theaters and IMAX on August 6, 2021; it will be available in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 14th to 20th, 2021 - Update #29

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver") will co-write and direct a new film adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel, "The Running Man" (published under the pen name Richard Bachman).  It will not be a remake of the 1987 film adaptation of the novel, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Thanks to various sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, Hollywood power house, Brett Ratner, has not directed a film since 2014's Hercules.  He is ready to make his comeback with a biopic of disgraced musical act, "Milli Vanilli." 

DISNEY - From YahooEntertainment:   Disney's new animated film, "Raya and the Last Dragon" introduces the first Southeast Asian Disney princess and heroine.

TELEVISION - From BleedingCool:  AMC and streaming service Shudder are developing a horror anthology series that showcases horror stories from Black directors and writers.

AWARDS - From Deadline: The nominations for the 2021 / 21st annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  CBS has cancelled its long-running sitcom, "Mom," after eight seasons.  The finale is set for May 6th, 2021.

From Deadline:  CBS is ending "NCIS: New Orleans" after seven seasons.  The series finale will end May 16th, 2021.

TRAILER - From YouTube:   This is the first  "official restricted trailer" for the "Mortal Kombat" reboot, which arrives on HBO Max April 16, 2021.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Ashley Judd is sharing photos and details about her recent African misadventure, which included shattering her leg in a jungle in the Congo last week.

MOVIES - From Variety:   Oscar-winning will produce and star in a film about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman.  Oscar-winning screenwriter, John Ridley, will write and direct the film.

STREAMING - From ShadowandAct:   Netflix's Kevin Hart-Wesley Snipes drama series, "True Story," adds Lauren London, Will Catlett and more new cast.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Keke Palmer will star in director Jordan Peele's next film.  Little is known about the film, and Oscar-nominated actor, Daniel Kaluuya, is in negotiations to also star in the film.

MOVIES - From IndieWire:   Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese takes aim at streaming’s lack of curation and core: "cinema Is being devalued by content."

AWARDS - From Deadline:   The nominations for the 2021 / 73rd annaul Writers Guild of America Awards have been announced.

DISNEY - From Vulture:   Disney unveils new "Cruella" poster featuring Emma Stone.

POLITICS - From Truthout:  An alarming revelation from a Republican senator, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, on Wednesday night suggests that former President Donald Trump continued to incite his mob of loyalists during the Capitol breach on January 6 even after learning that his then-vice president, Mike Pence's life was in danger.

MOVIES - From CBR:  As Zack Snyder awaits the release of his new film, "Zack Snyder's Justice League," he talks about developing a faithful adaptation of the King Arthur legend.

DISNEY - From THR:   Digital TV Research says that the streaming service, Disney+, will have more subscribers in 2026 than Netflix's streaming service.  However, it says that Disney+ will only have more subscribers than Netflix in only one country - India.

MUSIC - From CNN:   Rapper Nicki Minaj's father, 64-year-old Robert Maraj, dies in hit-and-run that occurred in Mineola, Long Island, police say.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   The winner of the 2/12 to 2/14/2021 weekend box office is "Croods: A New Age" with an estimated take of 2.66 million dollars.  The film, from DreamWorks Animation, was originally a Thanksgiving 2020 release.

From Variety:   The Chinese New Year led to a record-breaking holiday weekend at the Chinese box office - 775 million dollars.  "Detective Chinatown 3" lead the way with a record 424 million dollar debut.

From Deadline:  Director Nate Parker's "American Skin" becomes distributor, Vertical Entertainment's highest grossing PVOD (premium video on demand) release.

From Deadline:   "The Mauritanian," "The World To Come," and "Willy’s Wonderland" battle at the specialty box office.

CRIME - From YahooNews:  Attacks on older Asians stoke fear as Lunar New Year begins

CULTURE - From CNN:  People reflect on losing parents to the QAnon conspiracy.

COMICS TO MOVIES - DC CINEMA - From YouTube:   There is a new trailer (Sun., Feb. 14th) for the film now known as "Zack Snyder's Justice League."

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:   This year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the eventual "Best Picture" Oscar winner, "Silence of the Lambs."  Star Jodie Foster admits in a new interview that she was afraid of co-star Anthony Hopkins, who played the infamous "Hannibal Lecter."

MUSIC - From Variety:   In the wake of accusations of sexism and misogyny against Justin Timberlake regarding his treatment of former girlfriend Britney Spears, and the “wardrobe malfunction” with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl in 2004, he has apologized to both women in an Instagram post.

OBITS:

From Deadline:   Stage, film, and television actor, Christopher Pennock, has died at the age of 76, Friday, February 12, 2021.  He is best know for playing "Gabriel Collins" on the final season of the former ABC soap opera, "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971).  Pennock also appeared in numerous other daytime and primetime soap operas, including "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless," and "Knots Landing," to name a few.

From YahooSports:   Former NFL player, Vincent Jackson, has died at the age of 38, Monday, February 15, 2021.  He was found dead in a hotel in Brandon, a suburb of Tampa, Florida.  He played 12 years in the NFL as a wide receiver, first for the San Diego Chargers (2005-2011) and then, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2016).  He was a three-time Pro Bowl player (2009-2011).

"Wonder Woman 1984" Makes Virtual World Premiere Tues., Dec. 15th

DC FanDome Presents: “Wonder Woman 1984” Virtual World Premiere Fan-first Event on Tuesday, December 15 at 12 PM PST

Watch the Virtual Red Carpet With the Stars of “Wonder Woman 1984” From Anywhere in the World—Just a Click Away

Certain Lucky Loyalty Program Moviegoers Can Watch the Virtual Premiere on the Big Screen and Be the First Audiences to Experience the Full-length Movie in Select CinemaSafe IMAX & Premium Format Theaters

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Wonder Woman 1984” star Gal Gadot took to TikTok and announced that, via the hugely popular DC FanDome virtual event platform, fans around the globe will have a front row seat to the digital red carpet for Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Patty Jenkins’ hugely anticipated DC Super Hero action adventure. Some lucky fans will also be among the first audiences anywhere to see the entire film on the big screen in select theaters around the world.

Jenkins and Gadot stated, “We have the best fans in the world and that’s why we’re so excited to celebrate the launch of ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ in such a big way. Having it be a virtual event allows us to share the moment with Wonder Woman superfans everywhere who might not otherwise have the chance to experience a movie premiere.”

The Virtual World Premiere Red Carpet: Taking place in the ultimate fan-first destination, the DC FanDome Hall of Heroes, “attendees” can join the celebration of the upcoming film. In true Hollywood fashion, the film’s director, Patty Jenkins, and stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal – along with a special guest – will be on the red carpet to talk with host Tiffany Smith, and answer questions from fans. As Gadot herself revealed via TikTok today, the virtual event takes place on December 15 at 12:00 PM PST.

When they “arrive,” viewers can check out the massive screens within the Hall of Heroes as they project fans from around the world. Next, they will be treated to a special behind-the-scenes featurette, leading into the talent from “Wonder Woman 1984” stepping onto the carpet and into frame for an exciting conversation about the film. Later, the audience will enjoy a one-of-a-kind performance from world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer, who created the score. And there will be an exclusive sneak peek at the highly anticipated film.

To watch the Virtual Red Carpet, fans can go to:

•     DCFanDome.com, which will be supported across all WB, DC, HBO Max and AT&T social channels; and
•     TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
•     On Demand on HBO Max (in app and on the website); and
•     On Demand on talent and Warner Bros./WarnerMedia social channels; and
•     Select exhibition partners.

The In-Theater Virtual Premiere + Feature Film Experience: Certain lucky loyalty program members will be offered the opportunity to watch the Virtual Red Carpet on the big screen in select CinemaSafe theaters in IMAX and premium formats. Immediately following the event, they will be the first audiences to experience the full-length feature film “Wonder Woman 1984.”

DC FanDome Presents “Wonder Woman 1984” will also support World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization founded by chef José Andrés that uses the power of food to heal communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond. Fans interested in donating will find a link on the DC FanDome site beginning on the 15th.

From director Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot in the title role, “Wonder Woman 1984” fast forwards to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her riding lightning across the sky, donning wings of gold, and chasing a dream while in pursuit of two new formidable foes: Max Lord and the Cheetah.

In “Wonder Woman 1984,” the fate of the world is once more on the line, and only Wonder Woman can save it. This new chapter in the Wonder Woman story finds Diana Prince living quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s—an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile, curating ancient artifacts and only performing her superheroic acts incognito. But now, Diana will have to step directly into the spotlight and muster all her wisdom, strength and courage in order to save mankind from a world of its own making.

The film also stars Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as the Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Max Lord, Robin Wright as Antiope and Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta.

Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot and Stephen Jones produced the film. Rebecca Steel Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Marianne Jenkins, Geoff Johns, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Wesley Coller served as the executive producers.

Jenkins directed from a screenplay she wrote with Geoff Johns & Dave Callaham, story by Jenkins & Johns, based on characters from DC. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston. Joining the director behind the scenes are several members of her “Wonder Woman” team, including director of photography Matthew Jensen, Oscar-nominated production designer Aline Bonetto (“Amélie”), and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). Oscar-nominated editor Richard Pearson (“United 93”) cut the film. The music is by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer (“Dunkirk,” “The Lion King”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Atlas Entertainment/Stone Quarry Production, a Patty Jenkins Film, “Wonder Woman 1984.” The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be released in theaters internationally beginning December 16, and in the U.S. in theaters and on HBO Max on December 25, 2020.

www.wonderwomanmovie.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 9th to 15th, 2020 - Update #24

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

ANIMATION - From THR:  The Oregon-based animation studio, Laika, has laid off 56 employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the studio says they will be rehired at a future date.  The studios has produced several Oscar-nominated animated films, including "Coraline," "ParaNorman," and "The Missing Link."

MOVIES - From Variety:  Comedian Tig Notaro will replace actor-comedian Chris D'Elia in Zack Snyder's zombie movie, "Army of the Dead."  D'Elia has been recently accused of sexually harassing underage girls.  "Army of the Dead," which has been called a "spiritual sequel" to Snyder 2004 film, "Dawn of the Dead," will undergo reshoots to add Notaro into the film.

ANIMATION-POLITICS - From Deadline:  "The Simpsons'" Marge Simpson hits back at a White House aide who compared Democratic Vice-Presidential pick, Kamala Harris' voice to hers.

TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  The pop culture network, G4, is apparently making a return, and former G4 host, actress Olivia Munn, is reportedly returning as part of the relaunch deal.

AVATAR - From YahooEntertainment:  "Avatar 2," James Cameron's sequel to his mega-hit, "Avatar," will make use of practical set in addition to a massive use of CGI and motion-capture.

STREAMING - From BleedingCool:  Horror label, Blumhouse Productions, is teaming up with Amazon Original Movies to produce eight thematically connected films.  The first four debut in October 2021, with the remaining four coming in 2021.  There are synopses for the first four films.

TELEVISION - From THR:  Seth MacFarlane of "Family Guy" is producing a new TV adaptation of author Herman Wouk's novels "The Winds of War" (1971) and "War and Remembrance" (1978) for Universal Consent Productions.  Both books were previously produced as TV miniseries for ABC.  At the time of its release in 1983, "The Winds of War" was the most watched miniseries of all time.  "War and Remembrance" the miniseries ran from November 1988 to May 1989.

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:   Oscar-winnner Octavia Butler talks about being paid what she's worth for film and TV roles.

POLITICS - From BET:   Former Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States, has chosen California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. The formal nomination will take place during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention next week. 

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  "SpongeBob SquarePants" is getting a spin-off.  It's the animated TV series, "The Patrick Star Show," and it will feature Patrick hosting his own late-night talk show.  Voice recording on the series has reportedly started.

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Martin Scorsese has signed a first-look deal with Apple.  The Oscar-winning director will base his production banner, Sikelia Productions, at Apple for film and TV series developments.

JAMES BOND - From YahooEntertainment:  Sean Connery voted best James Bond by a fan vote.  [I choose Roger Moore - Leroy.]

MUSIC - From YahooToday:  Twin brothers, Tim and Fred Williams, have gone viral on YouTube with their reaction to Grammy-winning recording artist, Phil Collins' iconic drum fill on his 1981 hit, "In the Air Tonight."

WARNER MEDIA - From Deadline:  Now, the layoffs at WarnerMedia begin in a bid to streamline the company.

From Deadline:  WarnerMedia has undergone some big changes at the very top of the company with a chairman and two executives leaving.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Garth Davis, who directed the 2016 Oscar-nominated drama, "Lion," will direct Jared Leto is Disney's planned third "Tron" film.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Ben Affleck's next effort at directing film will be "The Big Goodbye."  The film will tell the behind-the-scenes story of the making of one of Hollywood's greatest films, "Chinatown" (1974).

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  The top film for the 8/7 to 8/9/2020 weekend box office is "Tax Collector" (starring Shia LeBeouf) with an estimated take of $317,000.  The movie exhibition marketplace is still being stricken by COVID-19.

ANIMATION - From LATimes:  Black animators demanded change in Hollywood for years.  Now, in the wake of George Floyd's death, they have Hollywood's attention.

DISNEY - From EW:  The documentary film, "Howard," takes a look at the life and work of playwright and lyricist, Howard Ashman, who wrote the lyrics to Alan Menken's music for Disney's animated films, "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast."

OBITS:

From THR:  One of America's all-time great media moguls, Sumner Redstone, has died at the age of 97, Tuesday, August 11, 2020.  He is best known for bringing Viacom, Paramount Pictures, and CBS together to form one media giant.  When CBS and Viacom split, Redstone remained chairman of both companies, although each had its own CEO.

From Deadline:  The actor and singer, Trini Lopez, has died at the age of 83, Tuesday, August 11, 2020 of complications of COVID-19.  His hit songs include the 1963 version of the song, "If I Had a Hammer," and the 1965 version of "Lemon Tree."  His best known role was as one of the "Dirty Dozen" (Pedro Jimenez), in the 1967 film, "The Dirty Dozen."

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEWS:

From CDC:   The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."

From YahooNews:  Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?

From YahooNews:  Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From YahooNews:  Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?

From YahooLife:  What is "happy hypoxia?"  And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?

From JuanCole:  Remeber when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19.  Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.

From TheIntercept:  The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...

From TheAtlantic:  The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying. The pandemic has exposed the bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others.

From ProPublica:  Hospital's Secret COVID-19 Policy Separated Native American Mothers From Their Newborns

From TheGuardian:  More than 20 million Americans could have contracted COVID-19, experts say.

From RSN/WashPost:  The COVID-19 mutation that has taken over the world.

7/13 - From YahooSports:  Maybe a pandemic means that there will not be college football this fall.

7/13- From YahooNews:  The CDC adds four new symptoms (including nausea and purple or blue lesions on feet and toes) to the list of COVID-19 symptoms.

7/19 - From YahooFinance:  Harvard Public Health professor Dr. Howard Koh says the U.S. "needs to regroup" to find COVID-19.

7/22 - From YahooNews:  A public health employee predicted Florida's coronavirus catastrophe — then she was fired.

7/22 - From YahooLifestyle:  Florida mom loses son, 20, to coronavirus, and then days later, her daughter.

7/23 - From TheWrap:  The site has a list of movie and TV stars, entertainment and sports figures who have tested positive for COVID-19

From YahooEntertainment:  Oscar-winning filmmaker Mel Gibson reveals that he was hospitalized with COVID-19 for a week in April.

From Bloomberg:  Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn Millennials into socialists?

7/27 - From CNN:   Chief of critical care at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Joseph Costa, passes away due to Covid-19 complications... after treating the hospital's sickest COVID-19 patients.  He was 56 and leaves behind family, including a husband of 28 years.

7/29 - From YahooPolitico:  Rep. Louie Gohmert, the defiant Texas Republican U.S. congressman who refused to wear a mask, has tested positive for COVID-19.

7/30 - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") reveals that he had a bout with COVID-19.

7/31 - From YahooEntertainment:  Writer and actress, Lena Dunham, creator of HBO's "Girls, reveals that she contracted COVID-19 and the symptoms she experiences and still experience.

7/30 - From YahooGMA:  In their bid to crackdown on illegal gatherings amid COVID-19, New York authorities break up an alleged sex party.

7/31 - From Slate:  COVID-19 is airborne - for reals!

8/2 - From TheDailyBeast:  In Mississippi, COVID-19 has coroners terrified.

8/6 - From CNN:  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (Republican) has tested positive for COVID19.

8/6 - From YahooNews:  Testing everyone constantly could stop the spread of COVID-19... according to this article.

8/8 - From YahooNYT:  The coronavirus is new, but your immune system might recognize it.

8/8 - From YahooNBC:  They thought COVID-19 was a hoax, and they almost died from it or are watching family and loved ones suffer with it or die from it.

8/9 - From YahooNews:  The rest of the world is incredulous at the pitiful U.S. response to COVID-19.

8/9 - From YahooAFP:  According to the real-time tally kept by John Hopkins University, the United States has hit 5 million cases of COVID-19.

BLACK LIVES MATTER:

From RSN:   Judge's Blistering Opinion Says Courts Have Placed Police Beyond Accountability

From Billboard:  In an interview will the venerable music publication, legendary country music singer-songwriter and actress, Dolly Parton, expresses support for the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 17th to 23rd, 2020 - Update #20

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEWS:

From CDC:   The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."

From YahooNews:  Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?

From YahooNews:  Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From YahooNews:  Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?

From YahooLife:  What is "happy hypoxia?"  And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?

From JuanCole:  Remeber when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19.  Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.

From TheIntercept:  The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...

From YahooNYT:  (5/21) - Maybe, President Donald really did miss the intelligence warnings about COVID-19 during briefings... because he has a short attention span.

From RSN:  (5/22) - Robert Reich's talks about "A Tale of Two Pandemics," one for the wealthy and one for the black, brown, indigenous, and essential.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  ABC is renews 13 of its current series and cancels five.

TRAILER - From RollingStone:  You can watch the second trailer for Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, "Tenet." The film, which stars John David Washington, is due July 17th release (we hope).

DAYTIME EMMYS - From THR:  The nominations for the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced June 26th, 2020 during a two-hour special on CBS.

SPORTS - From THR:  In the wake of its 10-part Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls docu-series, "The Last Dance," ESPN has announced a Tom Brady 9-part docu-series, "Man in the Arena."

CELEBRITY-CRIME - From YahooEntertainment:  Actress Lori Loughlin ("Full House") and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, will plead guilty to charges related to the "college admissions scandal."  Both are facing at least a few months in prison.

COMICS TO FILM - From THR:  Zack Snyder talks about HBO Max's 2021 release of his version of the superhero film, "Justice League," which he did not get to finish before its original release back in 2017.  Director Joss Whedon completed the film.  The article contains details about the film's production and what could and may be done to finish the "Zack Snyder" cut.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Producers Michael Bay and Adam Goodman are teaming up on the pandemic thriller, "Songbird," which will shoot in Los Angeles while the city is in lock down.  Beginning production in five weeks, it may be the first film to shoot in the city.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actor David Arquette will reprise his role as "Sheriff Dewey Riley" from the original "Scream" films for the "Scream" reboot.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Christopher Nolan would like his upcoming film, "Tenet," to revive movie theaters out its COVID-19 slumber.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Lily Wachowski, co-creator of "The Matrix," was not at all happy the Elon Musk and Ivana Trump were referencing the line "Take the red pill" from the film.

STREAMING - From Variety:  Netflix debuts the first trailer for Spike Lee's film, "Da 5 Bloods."

MOVIES - From THR:  Oscar-winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller are teaming with Oscar-nominee Ryan Gosling for the film, "Project Hail Mary," for MGM and based on the upcoming novel by the author of "The Martian."

STREAMING - Deadline:  The streaming service, CBS All Access, has announced its third "Star Trek" series (following "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard").  It is entitled "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," and will focus on Spock, Pike, and Number One, and will take place in the years before the original "Star Trek" TV series, in which Spock served under Capt. James T. Kirk.

OBITS:

From ESPN:  Former NBA All-Star player and coach, Jerry Sloan, has died at the age of 78, Friday, May 22, 2020.  As a pro basketball player, Sloan was drafted by the NBA's old Baltimore Bullets in 1965, but he was best known for his decade-long tenure with the Chicago Bulls.  He was considered one of the Bulls' greatest players.  Sloan coached the Utah Jazz from 1988 to 2011, and coached the Jazz to the NBA Championship Finals in 1997 and in 1998, where they lost both times to Michel Jordan's Bulls.  As a college basketball player, Sloan lead the University of Evansville men's basketball team to consecutive "Division II" national titles.

From Deadline:  The actor Gregory Tyree Boyce has died at the age of 30.  He was best known for his small but pivotal role in the first film in the "Twilight Saga," 2008's "Twilight."

From Variety:  The actor and former child star, Ken Osmond, has died at the age of 76, Monday, May 18, 2020.  Osmond was best known for portraying infamous teen character, "Eddie Haskell," on the classic TV series, "Leave It to Beaver" (1957-1963).  Osmond reprised the role for the syndicated revival series, "The New Leave It to Beaver"/"Still the Beaver" (1984-1989).  Osmond was also a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1970 to 1988.

From Deadline:  Film writer, producer, and director, Lynn Shelton, has died at the age of 54, Friday, May 15, 2020.  A leading light in 21st century American independent cinema, Shelton was best known for her films, "Humpday" (2009) and "Your Sister's Sister" (2011).  She was in a relationship with actor Marc Maron, who appeared in her 2019, "Sword of Trust."

From Deadline:  Miss America 1971 and former First Lady of Kentucky (1979-1983), Phyllis George, has died at the age of 70, Thursday, May 14, 2020.  George was married to one-time governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown, Jr.  For many, however, George is best remembered as a pioneering NFL sportscaster.  She was a sports analyst for CBS from 1975 to 1983, including a stint on CBS' "The NFL Today."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 27th to 31st, 2019 - Update #31

Support Leroy on Patreon:

STAR TREK - YahooEntertainment:  Patrick Stewart gives a few detail on his upcoming "Star Trek" series for the streaming CBS All Access.

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COMICS-FILM - From THR:  James Gunn in talks to direct the Warner Bros./DC Comics film, "Suicide Squad."

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MOVIES - From Collider:   Zendaya is being considered to play Timothy Chalamet's love interest in the "Dune" film reboot.

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STREAMING - From BloodyDisgusting:  Jordan Peele's reboot of "The Twilight Zone" will debut on CBS All Access in April.

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COMICS-FILM - From THR:  Writer-director Matt Reeves says his film, "The Batman" (due in 2021), will focus on Batman's detective roots and feature multiple villains from Batman's "Rogue's Gallery."

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STREAMING - From THR:  Zack Snyder has signed on to direct Netflix's "Army of the Dead," a zombie thriller movie.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Ryan Reynolds to star in action-comedy, "Shotgun Wedding," for director Jason Moore ("Pitch Perfect").

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MUSIC-GRAMMYS - From YahooEntertainment:  Brandi Carlile, the most nominated woman at the 2019 Grammys, talks to Yahoo about Joni Mitchell, President Barack Obama and "internalized and institutionalized misogyny."

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CELEBRITY-CRIME - From Variety:  Jussie Smollett, one of the stars of FOX's "Empire," was hospitalized early Tuesday (Jan. 29th), following an assault in Chicago in what has been described as a "possible hate crime."

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Lakeith Stanfield will star in Jordan Peele's "Candyman" reboot.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar Isaac joins Timothy Chalamet in the film reboot of the "Dune," based on Frank Herbert's legendary novel.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  David Mancini and David Kirschner, the creators of the "Child's Play" and "Chuck" film franchise are developing a Chucky TV series for Syfy.

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STREAMING - From Deadline:  NEON and Hulu land Lupita Nyong'o's zombie comedy, "Little Monsters."

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OSCARS - From TheCut:  What growing up in Hollywood and around the Academy Awards taught actress Amber Tamblyn about the "boys' club."  Tamblyn is the daughter of the Oscar-nominated actor, Russ Tamblyn.

MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  Universal's "Dark Universe" may be retitled "Undead Dark Universe."  This may happen via the "Invisible Man" (1933) remake produced by Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions.

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MOVIES - From Newsarama:  Release dates for upcoming science fiction, fantasy, and genre films.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/25 to 1/27/2019 weekend box office is "Glass" with an estimated take of $19 million.

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AWARDS - From People:  Alan Alda is the "2019 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award" winner.  "People" magazine provides this life in pictures.

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AWARDS - From THR:  Here is a complete list of winners at the 2019 / 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards winners.  Disney/Marvel's "Black Panther" wins the tops honor.

The 25th Annual SAG Awards ceremony will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS tonight (Jan. 27, 2019 at 8 p.m. ET/PT).  Four-time SAG Award-winner, Megan Mullaly, will host tonight's ceremony.

Here is the full list of nominations:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:
Christian Bale, “Vice”
Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born”
Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” - WINNER
Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”
John David Washington, “BlacKkKlansman”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:
Emily Blunt, “Mary Poppins Returns”
Glenn Close, “The Wife” - WINNER
Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”
Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”
Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:
Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” - WINNER
Timothee Chalamet, “Beautiful Boy”
Adam Driver, “BlacKkKlansman”
Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born”
Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Amy Adams, “Vice”
Emily Blunt, “A Quiet Place” - WINNER
Margot Robbie, “Mary Queen of Scots”
Emma Stone, “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite”

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:
“A Star Is Born”
“Black Panther” - WINNER
The cast for "Black Panther" – Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Sterling K. Brown, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Forest Whitaker, and Letitia Wright
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Crazy Rich Asians”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Antonio Banderas, “Genius: Picasso”
Darren Criss, “Assassination of Gianni Versace” - WINNER
Hugh Grant, “A Very English Scandal”
Anthony Hopkins, “King Lear”
Bill Pullman, “The Sinner”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Amy Adams, “Sharp Objects”
Patricia Arquette, “Escape at Dannemora” - WINNER
Patricia Clarkson, “Sharp Objects”
Penelope Cruz, “Assassination of Gianni Versace”
Emma Stone, “Maniac”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series:
Jason Bateman, “Ozark” - WINNER
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Joseph Fiennes, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
John Krasinski, “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series:
Julia Garner, “Ozark”
Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” - WINNER
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alan Arkin, “The Kominsky Method”
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
Bill Hader, “Barry”
Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” - WINNER
Henry Winkler, “Barry”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Alison Brie, “GLOW”
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” - WINNER
Jane Fonda, “Grace and Frankie”
Lily Tomlin, “Grace and Frankie”

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:
“The Americans”
“Better Call Saul”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Ozark”
“This Is Us” - WINNER
Cast of "This Is Us" – Eris Baker, Sterling K. Brown, Niles Fitch, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Justin Hartley, Faithe Herman, Jon Huertas, Melanie Liburd, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore, Lyric Ross, Chris Sullivan, Milo Ventimiglia, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Hannah Zeile

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
“Atlanta”
“Barry”
“GLOW”
“The Kominsky Method”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” - WINNER
Cast of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" – Caroline Aaron, Alex Borstein, Rachel Brosnahan, Marin Hinkle, Zachary Levi, Kevin Pollak, Tony Shalhoub, Brian Tarantina, and Michael Zegen

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series:
“Glow” - WINNER
“Marvel’s: Daredevil”
“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”
“The Walking Dead”
“Westworld”

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture:
“Ant-Man and the Wasp”
“Avengers: Infinity War”
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“Black Panther” - WINNER
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout”

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MOVIES - From Polygon:  Polygon is at Sundance to discover movies you should know about

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PIXAR - From BleedingCool:  Did you know that Keanu Reeves has a character in "Toy Story 4?"

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COMICS-FILM - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. and director James Wan has begin developing a sequel to the hit film, "Aquaman."  Wan is seeking a "seaworthy script."

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POLITICS-CRIME - From MediaMatters:  A comprehensive guide to indicted President Trump ally Roger Stone, the racist, sexist conspiracy theorist.

OBITS:

From Variety:  The prolific actor, Dick Miller, has died at the age of 90, Wednesday, January 30, 2019.  If you saw a picture of Miller, you would know that you have seen him in film or on TV.  He appeared in every film directed by Joe Dante, including "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2."  He also appeared in "The Terminator," among his over 180 acting credits.

From ConsequenceofSound:  Grammy-winning R&B singer and songwriter, James Ingram, has died at the age of 66, Tuesday, January 29, 2019.  Ingram, known for hits like "Baby, Come to Me" and "I Don't Have the Heart," won two Grammys for his vocal performances.  He was nominated twice for Oscars for his songwriting.

"Aquaman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" Swims into Stores

Aquaman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Now Available

Features New Songs from Skylar Grey and Pitbull Feat. Rhea

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music is excited to announce the release of the soundtrack to Aquaman, the action-packed adventure film from director James Wan that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas. The soundtrack is now available, and the film is in theaters on December 21, 2018. Aquaman features an original score by multi-award-winning composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (Wonder Woman, Hotel Rwanda, Hacksaw Ridge), includes a track by composer Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring, Annabelle) and debuts the new songs “Ocean To Ocean” by Pitbull Feat. Rhea, and the end title song “Everything I Need” by Skylar Grey.

To bring the film’s themes to life musically, Aquaman director James Wan turned to composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, who says, “Writing the themes for the different characters was awesome. Arthur Curry has such a strong character—he’s a real rock star—so I felt he deserved a big melody. He gets to rock out for certain intense moments too. Orm is Atlantean, and the score I wrote for Atlantis is in big contrast to the score for the surface world, epic and glorious. Black Manta inspired a more industrial, electronic feel. And, of course, there’s romance—two in fact. Atlantis and the entire world James created is truly amazing, giving me such a rich opportunity.”

“James Wan has given me such a rare opportunity and I am so unbelievably grateful,” explains Skylar Grey. “James, score composer Rupert Gregson-Williams, as well as every person behind the scenes on this project has been a dream to work with...a team of extremely respectful and professional people who I’m now honored to call friends. ‘Everything I Need,’ written by myself and my fiancé, Elliott Taylor, was inspired by the forbidden love story that is threaded throughout the movie, and we are very passionate about this song.”

“The ocean, the sea and any body of water, to me, is true freedom,” said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull), who was inspired by the film’s settings and themes, and especially by Aquaman’s struggle between his two worlds—the surface and the sea. “The ocean has always been the border from where my parents came from Cuba and the United States, which gives us freedom. That’s why I respect water. Bottom line: water gives us freedom.”

The Aquaman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is now available for streaming and for purchase digitally and on CD. The track list is as follows:

1. “Everything I Need (Film Version)” - Skylar Grey
2. Arthur
3. Kingdom Of Atlantis
4. It Wasn't Meant To Be
5. Atlantean Soldiers
6. What Does That Even Mean?
7. The Legend Of Atlan
8. Swimming Lessons
9. The Black Manta
10. What Could Be Greater Than A King?
11. Permission To Come Aboard
12. Suited And Booted
13. Between Land And Sea
14. He Commands The Sea
15. Map In A Bottle
16. The Ring Of Fire
17. Reunited
18. “Everything I Need” - Skylar Grey
19. “Ocean To Ocean” - Pitbull feat. Rhea
20. “Trench Engaged (from Kingdom of The Trench)” - Joseph Bishara

From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, Aquaman, starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-surface dweller, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king.

The film also stars Amber Heard; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe; Patrick Wilson; Dolph Lundgren; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman. Also featured are Ludi Lin and Temuera Morrison. Wan directed from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, story by Geoff Johns & James Wan and Will Beall, based on characters created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger for DC. The film was produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada serving as executive producers.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Peter Safran Production, a James Wan Film, Aquaman. The film is being released in 3D and 2D and IMAX, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. Aquaman is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language. www.aquamanmovie.com


About WaterTower Music:
WaterTower Music, the in house music label for Warner Bros., has been releasing recorded music since 2001 and has released over 200 titles, including the film soundtracks and scores to Crazy Rich Asians, Wonder Woman, Interstellar, Game Of Thrones, Westworld, The Hobbit Trilogy, The LEGO® Movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Project X, Rock of Ages, Hairspray, Sex and the City, Elf, The Notebook, and Love and Basketball, among others.

About Rupert Gregson-Williams:
RUPERT GREGSON-WILLIAMS (Composer) was born in England and educated at St. John’s College Choir School, Cambridge. The multi-award-winning composer works from his studios in both London and Los Angeles.

A truly versatile composer, Gregson-Williams has written the scores for a wide range of feature films, including the Oscar-winning “Hotel Rwanda,” for which he was awarded the European Film Award for Best Composer; the animated films “Over the Hedge” and Jerry Seinfeld’s “Bee Movie,” receiving an Annie Award nomination for his score for the latter; and the independent film “Love + Hate,” for which he was awarded the Reims International Composer Award.

Most recently, Gregson-Williams scored the blockbuster and critically acclaimed “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, which opened in 2017; the award-winning war drama “Hacksaw Ridge,” starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Mel Gibson, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and opened nationwide in 2016; and the international hit “The Legend of Tarzan,” starring Alexander Skarsgård and Margot Robbie and directed by David Yates.

For television, Gregson-Williams wrote the music for TNT’s “The Alienist,” starring Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans and Daniel Bruhl, which premiered in January 2018. He also wrote the score for the original Netflix series “The Crown,” created by Peter Morgan, which premiered on Netflix in November 2016, with the second season having debuted in December 2017. He received an Emmy nomination in 2017 for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) for his work on the first season of “The Crown.” He has also composed the music for various other TV projects, including the Emmy Award-winning HBO series “Veep,” AMC’s “The Prisoner,” and Sky Vision’s “Agatha Raisin.” He received an Emmy nomination for the 2002 telefilm “Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story,” for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore).

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Principal Photography Begins on "Wonder Woman 1984"

Cameras Roll on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Wonder Woman 1984”

Director Patty Jenkins Reteams with Star Gal Gadot for the DC Super Hero’s Return to the Big Screen

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing an all-new foe: The Cheetah. Principal photography is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ follow up to the Super Hero’s first outing, last summer’s record-breaking “Wonder Woman,” which took in $822 million at the worldwide box office. “Wonder Woman 1984” will also be helmed by acclaimed director Patty Jenkins, and star Gal Gadot in the title role.

As previously announced, the film also stars Kristen Wiig in the role of the Super-Villain The Cheetah, as well as Pedro Pascal. And Chris Pine returns as Steve Trevor.

Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Stephen Jones and Gal Gadot are producing the film. Rebecca Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Wesley Coller, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada are the executive producers.

Joining her behind the scenes are several members of Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” team, including director of photography Matthew Jensen, Oscar-nominated production designer Aline Bonetto (“Amélie”), and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). Oscar-nominated editor Richard Pearson (“United 93”) will cut the film.

Production will take place in Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Virginia, and in the UK, Spain and the Canary Islands.

Set to open in theaters November 1, 2019, “Wonder Woman 1984” is based on the character created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment (DC Comics). It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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Warner Bros. Pictures Passes $5 Billion in Worldwide Box Office for Second Time

Warner Bros. Pictures Surpasses $5 Billion at the Worldwide Box Office

For the First Time Ever, Five Releases Each Earned More Than $500 Million Worldwide

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures has crossed the $5 billion mark at the global box office this year—only the second time in its illustrious history that the Studio has crossed that tremendous milestone. It is also the eighth time in the last nine years that Warner Bros. has earned more than $4 billion in a single year, marking an industry record. The announcement was made today by Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Additionally, setting a new Studio record in 2017, Warner Bros. had five of its feature film releases each take in more than $500 million worldwide (in order): Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ action adventure “Kong: Skull Island” (with Legendary Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures), starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson and John C. Reilly; Patty Jenkins’ action adventure “Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine; Christopher Nolan’s sweeping epic “Dunkirk,” with an ensemble cast including Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy; New Line Cinema’s horror thriller “IT”; and, most recently, Zack Snyder’s “Justice League,” teaming Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Raymond Fisher, Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller, which stands at more than $574 million and still climbing.

The year’s highlights also include three more releases crossing $250 million worldwide: the animated feature “The LEGO® Batman Movie” (with LEGO System A/S); New Line’s horror thriller “Annabelle: Creation”; and Alcon Entertainment’s dramatic thriller “Blade Runner 2049” (with Sony Pictures).

In making the announcement, Kroll stated, “We are thrilled to reach this extraordinary benchmark as we come to the end of an amazing, record-setting year. Surpassing five billion dollars in a single year can only happen with an incredible level of hard work across all theatrical divisions, as well as the invaluable contributions of the many talented filmmakers and actors with whom we are so fortunate to collaborate. Congratulations to everyone who shares in this success.”

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"Justice League" Soundtrack Arrives on Friday, Nov. 10th

Justice League Soundtrack Available November 10, 2017

Features Original Score by Four-Time Academy Award Nominee and Grammy Award-Winning Composer Danny Elfman

Includes Music from Gary Clark Jr. & Junkie XL, Sigrid, and The White Stripes

First Listen: “Hero’s Theme” by Danny Elfman

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music is proud to announce the November 10, 2017 release of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic action adventure Justice League. The album features one of the industry’s most versatile and accomplished film composers, Danny Elfman, who is returning to score a DC Super Hero film for the first time since 1992’s Batman Returns.

    “I’m using the same thematic material that I used back then”
   
While bringing his celebrated and unique approach to the Justice League score, Elfman also gives DC fans some special familiar moments. Utilizing memorable character themes to tell the musical story, he incorporates and re-interprets iconic music from past films, including John Williams’ Superman theme, Hans Zimmer’s Wonder Woman theme, and his own Batman theme. “I’m using the same thematic material that I used back then,” Danny Elfman told Billboard Magazine. “It never actually went away. We’ve got these iconic bits from our past and that’s part of us, that’s part of our heritage. It just was great fun.”

The soundtrack also features a blistering version of The Beatles’ “Come Together” by electrifying virtuoso guitarist Gary Clark Jr. and Grammy-nominated and multiplatinum producer, musician, and composer Junkie XL; along with Norwegian pop singer/ songwriter Sigrid’s haunting and powerful take on Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows,” and The White Stripes classic “Icky Thump.”

LISTEN: “Hero’s Theme,” by Danny Elfman from the Justice League Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

LISTEN: “Come Together,” by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL from the Justice League Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The 27-track Justice League soundtrack, which includes three bonus tracks, will be released November 10. A two-CD version will be released on December 8, 2017, with a double vinyl edition coming February 9, 2018. The Justice League Original Motion Picture Soundtrack track list is as follows.

All music by Danny Elfman, unless otherwise noted.

“Everybody Knows” - Sigrid
The Justice League Theme - Logos
Hero’s Theme
Batman on the Roof
Enter Cyborg
Wonder Woman Rescue
Hippolyta’s Arrow
The Story of Steppenwolf
The Amazon Mother Box
Cyborg Meets Diana
Aquaman in Atlantis
Then There Were Three
The Tunnel Fight
The World Needs Superman
Spark of The Flash
Friends and Foes
Justice League United
Home
Bruce and Diana
The Final Battle
A New Hope            
Anti-Hero’s Theme
“Come Together” - Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL
“Icky Thump” - The White Stripes

The Tunnel Fight - (Full Length Bonus Track)
The Final Battle - (Full Length Bonus Track)
Mother Russia - (Bonus Track)
           

ABOUT DANNY ELFMAN
Over the last 30 years, four-time Oscar nominee Danny Elfman has established himself as one of the most versatile and accomplished film composers in the industry. He has collaborated with such directors as Tim Burton, David O. Russell, Gus Van Sant, Sam Raimi, Joss Whedon, Paul Haggis, Ang Lee, Rob Marshall, Guillermo del Toro, Barry Sonnenfeld, Brian De Palma, and Peter Jackson. Beginning with his first score on Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Elfman has scored a broad range of films, including: Milk (Oscar nominated), Good Will Hunting (Oscar nominated), Big Fish (Oscar nominated), Men in Black (Oscar nominated), Edward Scissorhands, Wanted, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mission: Impossible, Planet of the Apes, A Simple Plan, To Die For, Spider-Man (1 & 2), Batman, Dolores Claiborne, Sommersby, Chicago, Dick Tracy, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, Silver Linings Playbook, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Up next for Elfman is the highly anticipated action adventure Justice League from Warner Bros. & DC.

A native of Los Angeles, Elfman grew up loving film music. He travelled the world as a young man, absorbing its musical diversity. He helped found the band Oingo Boingo, and came to the attention of a young Tim Burton, who asked him to write the score for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. 30 years later, the two have forged one of the most fruitful composer-director collaborations in film history. In addition to his film work, Elfman wrote the iconic theme music for The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives. He also composed a ballet, Rabbit and Rogue, choreographed by Twyla Tharp; the symphony Serenada Schizophrana for Carnegie Hall; an overture The Overeager Overture for the Hollywood Bowl; Iris, a Cirque du Soleil show at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre; and most recently his first Violin Concerto, “Eleven, Eleven”, for soloist Sandy Cameron, which had its world premiere in Prague with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and its second performance at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. Danny Elfman’s “Music From the Films of Tim Burton” had its concert premiere in 2014 at London’s Royal Albert Hall and has continued on with over 60 concert performances in over 12 countries.

ABOUT JUSTICE LEAGUE
Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa and Ray Fisher star in the action-adventure film Justice League.

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League was directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, story by Terrio & Snyder, based on characters from DC Entertainment; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns produced the film, with Jim Rowe, Ben Affleck, Wesley Coller, Curtis Kanemoto, Daniel S. Kaminsky and Chris Terrio serving as executive producers.

Set for release in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX beginning November 17, Justice League will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. justiceleaguethemovie.com

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Review: Wonderful "Wonder Woman" in Less Than Wonderful Movie

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 (of 2017) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review originally posted on Patreon.]

Wonder Woman (2017)
Running time:  141 minutes (2 hours, 21 minutes)
MPAA – PG - 13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content
DIRECTOR:  Patty Jenkins
WRITERS:  Allan Heinberg; from a story by Zack Snyder, Allan Heinberg, and Jason Fuchs (based on characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and created by William Moulton Marston)
PRODUCERS:  Charles Roven, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, and Richard Suckle
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Matthew Jensen
EDITOR:  Martin Walsh
COMPOSER:  Rupert Gregson-Williams

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/WAR/HISTORICAL

Starring:  Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock, Lucy Davis, Elena Anaya, Lilly Aspell, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Ann Wolfe, Ann Ogbomo, Emily Carey, and James Cosmo

Wonder Woman is a 2017 superhero fantasy, war, and and historical film from director Patty Jenkins.  The film stars the DC Comics superhero, Wonder Woman, who first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (1941) and was created by writer William Moulton Marston (with artist Harry George Peter).  The movie takes place when Wonder Woman was only known as Diana, princess of the Amazons, a young, trained warrior who goes out into the world to discover her full powers and her true destiny.  Wonder Woman is also the fourth film in the DC (Comics) Extended Universe film series.

Wonder Woman opens in present-day Paris, in the Louvre, where Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) works as an archivist of some type.   Bruce Wayne has sent her a gift, a World War I-era photographic plate that contains an image of Diana and three men.

This image returns Diana's memories to her past, beginning when she was a child (Lily Aspell) on the hidden island of Themyscira, home to the Amazon race of warrior women.  Diana is the daughter of the queen, Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), who does not want her daughter trained to be a warrior.  Hippolyta's sister and Diana's aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright), believes that Diana should be prepared for the eventual day when she will have to fight.

As a young woman, Diana rescues an American pilot and spy, Captain Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), after his plane crashes off the coast of Themyscira.  The Germans pursing Trevor invade Themyscira, but are repelled by the Amazons.  Diana interprets these events as signs that she must accompany Trevor as he returns to the world of men, where Diana believes she must confront the reason for the world war that rages across Europe (World War I).  Diana believes that Ares, the god of war, is behind the so-called “War to End All Wars,” but Diana does not realize that this journey will reveal the truth about her powers, her destiny, and her identity.

Since its release to theaters in the United States (almost a month ago as of this writing) and around the world (over a month as of this writing), Wonder Woman has received rave reviews.  Women and children, especially girls, have embraced the power of this beloved female superhero who finally stars in her own feature film.

I get it; I understand the appeal and the adoration, but for me, Wonder Woman the movie is, at best, a slightly above-average superhero movie.  Gal Gadot is wonderful as Wonder Woman, which surprised me because I thought she was all wrong when I first heard about her casting.  However, here, Gadot is so good that I had trouble imagining another actress (except maybe Linda Carter) as Wonder Woman.  Gadot embodies the strength and independence of a woman raised in a society in which women do not think of themselves as subordinate or inferior to men.

In the character drama, in the film's quiet moments, in the times when Diana fights for the forgotten and ignored (the “little” people?), director Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot deliver on what Wonder Woman has meant, what she means today, and what she can mean in the future.  Jenkins and Gadot depict the ability of women to pursue the best of themselves and to pursue the best for humanity at large – with their endeavors as equal or even superior to those of men.  To nurture and to create; to defend and to take the initiative:  Wonder Woman/Diana and women can do anything men can do.

The problems with Wonder Woman the film are the men who contribute to this film.  Co-producer and co-writer Zack Snyder's handiwork is all over the cheesy, slow-motion camera fight scenes.  The fact that the last act devolves into a ridiculous supernatural battle between Diana and Ares is typical of the previous Warner/DC Comics films.  Those movies reeked with the ludicrous fights that were the climaxes of Snyder's The Man of Steel and Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as last year's Suicide Squad, which is also part of the DC Extended Universe.

Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot deliver some superb movie making with Wonder Woman.  Unfortunately, the perspective of males, one of whom is a hack filmmaker, ruins it.

6 of 10
B

Friday, June 30, 2017


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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"Wonder Woman" Wonderful at Worldwide Box Office

“Wonder Woman” Overpowers the Competition at the Global Box Office

The DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone film stands tall, with an opening weekend total of $223 million worldwide

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wonder Woman has proven her strength on the big screen as one of the world’s greatest superheroes, as well as the weekend’s greatest box office draw. Cutting through the competition, director Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” has taken in $223 million globally, and counting. The announcement was made by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The impressive worldwide total makes “Wonder Woman” the largest female-lead superhero movie opening of all time, the biggest opening in June for a superhero movie, and the biggest opening in June for a Warner Bros. film. With a Certified Fresh rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is also one of the best-reviewed superhero films ever, and its CinemaScore of A shows audiences agree.

Domestically, the film has grossed $100.5 million and has the highest opening weekend box office of all time for a female director. Internationally, it opened day-and-date in 55 markets, including China, the UK, Russia, Italy, Korea, Mexico and Brazil, garnering a total of $122.5 million. Additional key markets, such as France, Germany, Japan and Spain, have yet to open.

In making the announcement, Kroll stated, “We’re incredibly proud of ‘Wonder Woman’ and thrilled that it has resonated with critics and moviegoers everywhere. This is a film that’s perfect for our time; hopeful and inspiring, as well as a hugely entertaining adventure—it transcends the genre. Patty Jenkins and her exceptional cast and crew—led by the incomparable Gal Gadot—delivered a ‘Wonder Woman’ that is true to the aspirational hero. We congratulate everyone involved in bringing it to the screen on this tremendous success.”

Gal Gadot stars in the title role of “Wonder Woman,” an epic action adventure from director Patty Jenkins (“Monster,” AMC’s “The Killing”), marking the DC Super Hero’s first-ever stand alone feature film.

Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, raised on a sheltered island paradise and trained to be an unconquerable warrior. But when an American pilot crashes off their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside men in the war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.

Joining Gadot in the international cast are Chris Pine (the “Star Trek” films), Robin Wright (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Netflix’s “House of Cards”), Danny Huston (“Clash of the Titans,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”), David Thewlis (the “Harry Potter” films, “The Theory of Everything”), Connie Nielsen (TV’s “The Following,” “Gladiator”), Elena Anaya (“The Skin I Live In”), Ewen Bremner (“T2 Trainspotting,” “Snowpiercer”), Lucy Davis (“Shaun of the Dead,” TV’s “Better Things”), Lisa Loven Kongsli (upcoming “Ashes in the Snow”), Saïd Taghmaoui (“American Hustle”) and Eugene Brave Rock (TV’s “Hell on Wheels”).

Patty Jenkins directed the film from a screenplay by Allan Heinberg, story by Zack Snyder & Allan Heinberg and Jason Fuchs, based on characters from DC. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston.

The film was produced by Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder and Richard Suckle, with Stephen Jones, Geoff Johns, Jon Berg, Wesley Coller and Rebecca Steel Roven serving as executive producers.

Joining Jenkins behind the camera were director of photography Matthew Jensen (“Chronicle,” “Fantastic Four,” HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Oscar-nominated production designer Aline Bonetto (“Amélie,” “A Very Long Engagement”), Oscar-winning editor Martin Walsh (“Chicago,” “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”), Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Topsy-Turvy”) and two-time Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer (“Life of Pi,” “The Golden Compass”). The music is by composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Legend of Tarzan”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Tencent Pictures and Wanda Pictures, an Atlas Entertainment/Cruel and Unusual production, “Wonder Woman.” The film is being distributed in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content.

www.wonderwomanfilm.com

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