Universal confirms fifth 'Fast & Furious'

Vin Diesel already hinted at it via Facebook back in January: Universal is definitely moving forward with a fifth "Fast & Furious" flick, and the way it looks, we will see it on the big screen next year already.

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, director Justin Lin and producer Neal H. Moritz will all return for the fifth installment in the series, which is tentatively titled "Fast Five." Chris Morgan ("Wanted") is writing the script.

The story? Well, according to Variety, "Fast Five" follows Diesel and Walker as fugitives pursued by ruthless cops. I think I've heard that one before, in one way or another. Shooting will begin later this year.

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Two new 'Fast & Furious' films on the way?

Social media tools allow Hollywood's stars to directly communicate with fans without being bothered too much in return, and Vin Diesel used Facebook this weekend to announce two more "Fast & Furious" movies may be heading our way soon.

Diesel updated his page by saying writer Chris Morgan ("Wanted") delivered two new chapters for the franchise. "If 2009's 'Fast and Furious' was chapter one, what writer Chris Morgan just delivered is Chapter 2 and chapter 3," he wrote.

"I have never been submitted a two story saga from a studio before... it is very exciting, and shows a commitment level that is hard not to respond to," he added. He also said he would be excited about the "sexy" locations these films would take them.

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'Star Trek' wins overseas box office race

J. J. Abrams' "Star Trek" ruled the international box office this weekend with an estimated $35.5 million in 54 markets. The reboot of the popular sci-fi franchise is currently No. 1 worldwide.

Dropping to second place was Gavin Hood's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which took home another $29.7 million in 102 territories. The action blockbuster's overseas total currently stands at $123.7 million.

Meanwhile, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" collected $7.8 million in third place. Starring Miley Cyrus, the teen flick about a girl who leads a double life as a pop star lifted its total gross to $19.7 million.

At No. 4, "Coraline" pulled $4.9 million after opening in nine markets. The total international gross of Henry Selick's stop-motion 3D adventure now stands at $15.2 million.

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'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' grabs $73M overseas

Gavin Hood's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" dominated the international box office with an estimated $73 million in ticket sales. Domestically, the film opened just as strong, scoring an impressive $87 million.

At a distant No. 2, Zac Efron's comedy "17 Again" took home another $8.3 million in 25 territories, lifting its overseas total to $38 million.

Tied for third place this weekend were Justin Lin's "Fast & Furious" and Peter Chelsom's "Hannah Montana: The Movie," which collected $6.7 million each. "Furious" reached a cume of $182.4 million, while "Hannah" brought its total to $8.7 million.

Meanwhile, "Monsters vs. Aliens" picked up $6.1 million at No. 4, reaching a cumulative gross of $152.1 million on the international circuit. Following in fifth place with $5.1 million was "State of Play," which finished with a total of $12.4 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: "Gran Torino" took $2.3 million for a $105.2 million total; "Duplicity" pulled another $2.1 million; "Race to Witch Mountain" earned $2 million; and "Knowing" reached $70.8 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'Fast & Furious' still box office champion overseas

"Fast & Furious" topped the international box office for a third consecutive weekend with an estimated $15.2 million in ticket sales. The film is playing in 59 markets, and its total gross currently stands at a solid $170 million.

At No. 2, "Monsters vs. Aliens" collected another $11.2 million in 59 territories, lifting its overseas total to $143 million. Following in third place with $6.8 million was Zac Efron's latest comedy "17 Again," which lifted its cumulative gross to $27.5 million.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Cage's latest sci-fi flick "Knowing" pulled $4.1 million, bringing its total gross to $63.9 million. At No. 5, "State of Play" took home $3.6 million in five territories for a cume of $6.1 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: "Gran Torino" earned another $3.3 million for a total of $99.1 million; "I Love You, Man" collected $2.5 million; "Race to Witch Mountain" picked up $3.1 million; and "Duplicity" reached an international gross of $26.5 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Box Office: ‘Obsessed’ delivers $28M opening

Weekend of April 24 – 26, 2009

Beyoncé Knowles' thriller "Obsessed" defeated its competition at the North American box office with $28.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

In the film directed by Steve Shill, Idris Elba co-stars as a successful asset manager who gets into trouble with his wife (Knowles) when his new temp (Ali Larter) starts stalking him.

At No. 2, last week’s box office winner “17 Again” collected another $11.6 million, lifting its domestic total to $39.9 million. Starring Zac Efron, the comedy follows a 37-year-old who gets to relive his past as a 17-year-old.

New release “Fighting” debuted in third place with $11.4 million. Directed by Dito Montiel, the drama follows Channing Tatum in the role of a poor chap trying to score big in the world of underground street fighting.

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'Fast & Furious' continues overseas b.o. dominance

"Fast & Furious" topped the international box office for the second consecutive weekend with an estimated $36 million in ticket sales. The film's overseas total currently stands at an impressive $145 million.

At No. 2, DreamWorks Animation's "Monsters vs. Aliens" took home $20 million in 58 territories, reaching a cumulative gross of $126 million.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Cage's sci-fi thriller "Knowing" finished third with $8.4 million, bringing its international total to $54.5 million. Following at No. 4 with $6 million was Zac Efron's new comedy "17 Again," which is currently playing in nine markets. 

Walt Disney's "Race to Witch Mountain" took No. 5, earning $5.5 million for a total gross of $24.3 million. In the film, Dwayne Johnson plays a taxi driver helping two alien kids return to their spaceship.

Other results from the overseas box office: "Dragonball Evolution" took home $3.9 million for a total of $44 million; "Gran Torino" pulled $3.4 million; "The Boat That Rocked" collected $3.8 million; and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" finished with $2.2 million.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Box Office: ’17 Again’ takes $24M at No. 1

Weekend of April 17 – 19, 2009

Zac Efron’s latest teenage comedy “17 Again” slashed its competition at the North American box office this weekend with $24 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Directed by Burr Steers, the film follows a 37-year-old man who despises his existence and gets to relive his past as a 17-year-old. Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon and Michelle Trachtenberg co-star.

Debuting in second place with $14 million was Kevin Macdonald’s thriller “State of Play,” which stars Russell Crowe as a print journalist who launches his own investigation into the murder of a congressman’s assistant. Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams round out the lead cast.

Things didn’t turned out as well for “Crank: High Voltage,” the week’s third wide release. The action sequel starring Jason Statham opened at No. 6 with only $6.5 million, which is about half the opening weekend gross of its predecessor.

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Zac Efron's '17 Again' leads Friday box office

Zac Efron's latest teen comedy "17 Again" topped the North American box office Friday with an estimated $9.4 million in ticket sales. Directed by Burr Steers, the film follows a 37-year-old man who gets to relive his past as a 17-year-old.

Debuting at No. 2 with $4.5 million was Kevin Macdonald's latest thriller "State of Play," a thriller about a reporter who embarks on his own investigation into the murder of a congressman's assistant. Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck lead the cast.

Things didn't go as well for "Crank: High Voltage," which finished in sixth place with a daily gross of $2.6 million. Jason Statham returns as Chev Chelios, a man who's hunting down the gut who stole his heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker.

Last week's box office champion "Hannah Montana: The Movie" slipped to No. 3, collecting another $4 million for a domestic total of $47.8 million. Following in fifth place with $3.8 million was "Fast & Furious," which lifted its cumulative gross to $128.2 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Movie briefs: 'Fast & Furious 5' already being assembled?

• With "Fast & Furious" collecting the big bucks at the box office ($116 million to date), a fifth film is already in early stages of development, according to Paul Walker. The actor recently talked to 104.3 MYfm, revealing another sequel will definitely happen. “But without question, with the way things opened up, Vin and I will be coming back, we’re making a fifth one, and we’re going to Brazil, that’s it,” he said. (via LA Times)

• It's no news Universal will make a fourth "Bourne" flick, but the real question is: where is the project at right now? According to Frank Marshall's twittering, the film should be ready for summer 2011, with a draft expected to be completed by June this year. Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon will return, and the film will be the first not based on a novel by Robert Ludlum.

• MTV recently talked to Michael Bay, who said his upcoming sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" will be four minutes longer than the previous flick. That means the movie will run for 147 minutes! I really don't care about length, as long as it is as entertaining as its predecessor. "Fallen" opens June 24, 2009.

• William Hurt is the latest to join Ridley Scott's upcoming "Robin Hood." The Hollywood Reporter says Hurt plays William Marshall, the Earl of Pembroke. Russell Crowe is the leading man, while Cate Blanchett plays Maid Marian. The film is already shooting.