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San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Robin Williams' haunting final days resurface as ‘Night at the Museum' franchise returns
Nearly two decades after Robin Williams first brought Teddy Roosevelt to life in 'Night at the Museum,' the family-friendly film franchise is getting a reboot — this time with a new cast, an original storyline and a fresh voice guiding the script. Production company 21 Laps has begun developing the reimagining for 20th Century Studios, with Tripper Clancy set to pen the screenplay. Shawn Levy, who directed the original trilogy, will return as producer alongside Dan Levine, maintaining creative continuity for a series that has grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide, according to Deadline. The reboot will reportedly remain set in the same type of enchanted museum where exhibits spring to life after dark, but will introduce an entirely new slate of characters. It marks the franchise's first live-action installment since 2014's 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb' — a film now remembered as Williams' final live-action role. Behind the scenes of that film, Williams was already exhibiting signs of serious struggle, Levy revealed in the 2020 documentary 'Robin's Wish.' 'I would say a month into the shoot, it was clear to me, it was clear to all of us on set, that something was going on with Robin,' Levy said. 'We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn't before, to remember lines and to combine the right words with the performance.' Though Williams had spoken publicly about his battles with depression, it wasn't until after his death that his family disclosed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia — a neurological disorder that severely affected his memory and confidence. The toll of the disease became evident in Williams' late-night phone calls to Levy. 'When Robin would call me at 10 at night, at two in the morning, at four in the morning, saying, 'Is it usable? Is any of this usable? Do I suck? What's going on? ' I would reassure him,' Levy said in the documentary. 'I said, 'You are still you. I know it. The world knows it. You just need to remember that.'' Williams died by suicide at age 63 in his Marin County home in August 2014, just four months before the film's release. He is also remembered for his roles in 1997's Oscar-winning 'Good Will Hunting,' 1993's 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 1996's 'Birdcage.' 'My faith in him never left, but I saw his morale crumbling,' Levy added. 'I saw a guy that wasn't himself, and that was unforgivable.' While plot details remain under wraps, the reboot will be the first entry in the franchise since the 2022 animated feature 'Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again,' released on Disney+. Levy is also preparing to direct 'Star Wars: Starfighter,' starring Ryan Gosling, while original leading man Ben Stiller has shifted his focus behind the camera, producing the acclaimed series 'Severance.' In recent days, a resurfaced comedy clip has rekindled admiration for Williams' sharp political humor. In a 2012 stand-up set, the comedian skewered then-real estate mogul Donald Trump, likening Atlantic City to the 'Wizard of Oz on acid' filled with 'junkies, pimps and pizza.' 'And Donald Trump is the Wizard of Oz, he is the guy,' Williams said. 'He plays monopoly with real f—ing buildings. This is a scary man.' Williams didn't hold back, skewering Trump's beauty pageant empire. 'He owns all these beauty pageants, Miss America, Miss Universe,' he said. 'Isn't that a bit like Michael Vick owning a series of pet stores?' Williams didn't hold back, skewering Trump's beauty pageant empire; taking aim at Trump's infamous hairstyle and at the mogul's controversial remark about his daughter Ivanka being 'hot.' 'Even people in Arkansas went, 'that's f—ing wrong,'' Williams said. 'That's just way out of place.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Night at the Museum to be rebooted by less than 20 years after release of first film
A reboot of Night at the Museum is in the works with the family film franchise's original director, according to Deadline . Almost 20 years after the first movie was released, the production company 21 Laps has started to develop a reimagining of the series for 20th Century Studios. Night at the Museum (2006) starred Ben Stiller as a security guard at a museum in New York, where the exhibits come to life after it closed its doors for the night. Other cast members included the late Robin Williams, Owen Wilson and Rami Malek. The film's sequel, Battle of the Smithsonian , was released in 2009, followed by a third film, Secret of the Tomb , four months after the passing of Williams in 2014. Ricky Gervais, Dick Van Dyke and Rebel Wilson are amongst the other actors who have starred in the trilogy, which grossed around $1.3bn (£1bn) at the box office. Ben Stiller with Robin Williams in 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb' (20th Century Fox) According to Deadline , the reboot will follow an original storyline and feature a string of new characters. Tripper Clancy, the screenwriter behind Netflix's I Am Not Ok With This , is reportedly working on the script. Shawn Levy, who directed the first three films and Deadpool & Wolverine , will work as a producer on the reimagining. Further details are yet to be revealed, although it is clear the reboot will be the franchise's first film since 2022, when it released the animated film Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again on Disney+. Levy is currently working on Star Wars: Starfighter , a standalone movie in the franchise, starring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth. The film is scheduled to be released on 27 May 2027. Meanwhile, Stiller has since taken a backseat when it came to performing in lead roles, having spent the majority of his time recently behind the camera. 'I've been working on projects as a director and producer for a while, and wanting to act, but I kind of made the choice a few years ago that I was only going to do something if it really hit me,' Stiller explained during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Amongst his biggest successes has been his work as an executive producer on the psychological thriller series, Severance , which concluded its second season earlier this year to rave reviews.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Night at the Museum reboot announced, social media users slam the idea: ‘It's a big no'
The Night at the Museum franchise, which was brought alive by Ben Stiller and Robin Williams' comedic skills 20 years ago, is set for a reboot. However, the news hasn't exactly sparked excitement on social media, with many users even expressing disappointment about the revival of the film series. The Night at the Museum franchise kicked off in 2006. Night at the Museum set for reboot As per Variety, a Night at the Museum reboot is in the works at 20th Century Studios, with 21 Laps Entertainment getting Tripper Clancy onboard to pen the script. At the moment, the story remains under wraps, but it is believed that the film will narrate a fresh tale from the corridors of the museum with new characters. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps. Emily Morris will oversee the project for the company. The Night at the Museum franchise kicked off in 2006. It was followed up with three follow-ups: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) and the animated feature Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (2022). ShawnLevy directed the first three films, while Matt Danner helmed Kahmunrah. Ben Stiller starred in the first three movies as museum night security guard Larry Daley, who discovers that the historical exhibits come alive at night. The franchise also featured late Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Mickey Rooney, Brad Garrett, Dick Van Dyke and Rami Malek also starred. The fourth film, which debuted on Disney+, featured a new cast including the voices of Joshua Bassett, Jamie Demetriou, Gillian Jacobs and Zachary Levi. The three live-action films grossed over $1.3 billion collectively at the global box office. Fans react Fans are voicing their discontent over the Night at the Museum reboot on social media, arguing that some classics should be left untouched. Some are calling for Hollywood to focus on creating original content rather than rehashing old favourites. 'Who asked for a night at the museum reboot,' wrote one, with another mentioning, 'As the cape movies continue to fail, Hollywood is pivoting to stale franchise remakes like Night at the Museum, National Treasure, and toy movies like Hot Wheels. They are totally flailing. Meanwhile streaming continues to eat their lunch'. 'There could never be a night at the museum without my kings robin williams and rami malek,' read one comment, with another reading, 'I enjoyed the night at the museum movies but this just seems unnecessary.' One fan shared, 'Hell no, DO NOT TOUCH NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM', with another sharing, 'New National Treasure, new Night at the Museum, reboots, 'readaptations', 'reimaginings'… can anyone get funding over $10mill for anything original?' 'No, absolutely NOT. I grew up with those movies and the creators are just going to ruin it all. The thought of any more parts died with Robin. It wont be Night at the museum without our loved characters. Stop remaking and adding parts to movies that DONT NEED it. It ended perfect,' one wrote. Another social media user added, 'A Night at the Museum remake is a big no no. It's a bad idea all around. Fricking Disney and 20th Century Studios! Come up with new ideas from this franchise. Instead of doing a remake of ANATM, do an animated series, spinoff movies, or prequel movies and some shorts'.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Night at the Museum' Reboot On The Way
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors It's time to go back to the museum. Deadline reports that production company 21 Laps is working on a reboot of the fantasy comedy "Night at the Museum." Tripper Clancy is working on the script for the reboot. Plot details are under wraps other than it being a reimagining rather than a continuation of the previous films. Read More: Chris Pratt Returns to Fan-Favorite Animated Role Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing for 21 Laps. There is no word on a director for the reboot. Levy, who is better known these days for helming the Marvel hit "Deadpool & Wolverine," directed all three of the live-action "Night at the Museum" films. The animated feature was helmed by Matt Danner. 20th Century Studios The first "Night at the Museum" film debuted in 2006, based on the 1993 children's book of the same name by Milan Trenc. Ben Stiller plays Larry Daley, a night-shift security guard at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Daley finds out on his first shift that the museum's exhibit come to life after sunset. The first film earned $575 million at the worldwide box office, prompting the first sequel, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" in 2009. The sequel took in $413 million. It wasn't until 2014 that the third and final (until now) of the live-action films released, "Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb," which earned $363 million. The first three films featured an impressive ensemble cast that included Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Rami Malek, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, and more. There's no word on whether or not any of the surviving members of the first four films' casts will be asked back for the reboot. While "Secret of the Tomb" was the end of the live-action films, an animated feature, "Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again," released on Disney+ in 2022. The hero of the fourth film is Nick Daley, Larry's son, voiced by Joshua Bassett. While it went straight to streaming, "Kahmunrah Rises Again" proved to be the most critically hailed of all the "Night at the Museum" films. The animated feature enjoys a 77% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the only entry in the franchise so far with a score above 48%. More Movies: 'Hot Wheels' Movie On the Way from 'Wicked' Director 'Reservoir Dogs,' 'Kill Bill' Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Madonna Teams With Shawn Levy For Limited Series About Her Life In Works At Netflix
EXCLUSIVE: Global music superstar Madonna has partnered with global streamer Netflix to tell her story. A limited series about her life and music is in early development at Netflix, with Madonna and Shawn Levy, whose 21 Laps has an exclusive TV overall deal at the platform, executive producing, Deadline has learned. A rep for Netflix declined comment. The duo, who had been discussing the project for awhile, are starting from scratch: the biographical limited series is not related to the Madonna feature biopic which was previously in development at Universal with three-time Emmy winner Julia Garner as the choice to play the Queen of Pop. More from Deadline 'Lupin 4' Confirmed By Netflix As Shoot With Omar Sy Begins In Paris Media & Tech Stocks Pop As China Tariff Tensions Thaw Netflix UK Boss Anne Mensah Rules Herself Out Of BBC Content Chief Race It is early days of development on the TV series, so it is unclear yet which period in Madonna's decades-spanning career it will focus on. Still, Garner has remained engaged — she famously appeared alongside Madonna on stage at the singer's Celebration Tour in December 2023 — and I hear the Ozark star would most likely play Madonna, subject of availability as she doesn't have a deal. (Garner would also feel right at home at Netflix where she just signed on her for her third series, an FTX limited series, following her turns on Inventing Anna and Ozark.) It is also too early to tell whether Madonna would be involved in the writing; she co-wrote the proposed feature. Teaming with Netflix and one of the streamer's most prolific TV producers, Levy, who is behind such Netflix shows as mega hit Stranger Things and limited series The Perfect Couple and All the Light We Cannot See, represents a major step in bringing Madonna's story to the screen, something she has been passionate about for years. 'I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world,' she said at the time of the Universal feature announcement in 2020. Madonna had remained committed to the idea and last November hinted on Instagram that she may be pivoting from a feature biopic to a TV series about her life. Since she dropped out of college and got on a plane for the first time in her life to pursue a career in music and dance in New York with $35 in her pocket, Michigan native Madonna has defied expectations at every turn. Certified the best-selling female music artist in history, Madonna has sold 400 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. Her impact on society and pop culture have gone beyond her influence in the music industry as a revolutionary pop star who challenged sexism to redefine what it means to be a powerful woman in the field. Fearless and provocative, the 'Like a Virgin' singer has been outspoken on women's rights and sexuality, pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms, and a strong advocate of the LGBTQ community. Madonna is repped by CAA, Maverick Management, Untitled Entertainment and Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks. Levy and 21 Laps are repped by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media
