The superhero pic will dive into North American theaters on Dec. 21.
James Wan’s Aquaman made a giant splash in its China two
weeks ahead of its U.S. launch, grossing $93.6 million to land the top
opening ever for a DC comic book adaptation.
Aquaman — starring Jason Momoa in the titular role — also marks the biggest start ever in China for any Warner Bros. title, besting Ready Player One by 66 percent.
Among Warner Bros./DC movies, Aquaman launched 92 percent ahead of Justice League and 78 percent ahead of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Plus, it has already exceeded the entire lifetime gross of Wonder Woman in the country.
Aquaman also delivered the biggest industry opening in China
for the month of December, commanding 85 percent of market share. Imax
sites in the Middle Kingdom turned in a mighty $9.7 million.
Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson and Dolph Lundgren co-star in the tentpole, which follows on the heels of Sony’s Venom, which has earned a stunning $268 million in China to date for a global total north of $850 million.
Warners decided to unfurl Aquaman first in China, followed
by additional foreign markets next week, in order to get a jump on a
crowded pack of year-end holiday films, including Mary Poppins Returns and the Transformers spinoff Bumblebee.
Aquaman will open in North America on Dec. 21, the beginning of the lucrative year-end holiday corridor.
It’s… it’s not about deserve. Maybe, maybe we don’t. But it’s not about that, it’s about what you believe. You don’t think I get it, after what I’ve seen out there? You don’t think I wish I could tell you that it was one bad guy to blame? It’s not! We’re all to blame! I’m not! But maybe I am.
How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. —The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Classic DC Comics hero Plastic Man is getting the big-screen treatment.
Up-and-coming screenwriter Amanda Idoko has been hired to pen the script for what will be a comedic action-adventure for Warner Bros. Bob Shaye, the former co-founder of New Line-turned-producer will executive produce.
Plastic Man wasn’t initially a DC character, having been created by Jack Cole for Quality Comics in 1941. When Quality went under in 1956, DC bought many of the characters, Plastic Man among them.
The hero’s true identity is Patrick “Eel” O’Brian, a crook-turned-good guy. O’Brian was part of a gang, and during a botched heist is shot and — wouldn’t you know it — also doused with a chemical liquid. Left for dead by the gang, he awakens to find himself imbued with the power to shape-shift and stretch his body into almost anything thanks to being the most malleable man alive. O’Brian eventually reforms and becomes a police officer.
The character has a certain cult status amongst the comic crowd. He was a member of the Justice League for a time and even had his own cartoon series.
The project is in the early stages and has no filmmaker on board. Details of Idoko’s take were not revealed, but her hiring caps a half-year search by the studio to find the right person the job. Warners is planning on staying true to the light-hearted and even silly tones of the character, say sources.
I used to want to save the world. This beautiful place. But I knew so little then. It is a land of beauty and wonder, worth cherishing in every way. But the closer you get, the more you see the great darkness simmering within. And mankind? Mankind is another story altogether.
If we catch John Doe and he turns out to be the devil, I mean if he’s Satan himself, that might live up to our expectations, but he’s not the devil. He’s just a man.
My favorite end-of-the-year review of movies is always David Ehrlich’s video countdown of the top 25 best films. In this year’s review, I was surprised to see Annihilation on the list (I thought it was ok?) and also delighted by the high ranking of Paddington 2. Eighth Grade, The Favourite, and First Reformed all deservedly made the list, along with Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which I really liked. Would have liked to have seen Black Panther on there though.
House of Brat 