Latest news with #Ant-ManandtheWasp:Quantumania
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
I was missing the squirrel: James Gunn on ‘Superman' moment he fought for
There is a key moment in James Gunn's Superman where the superhero saves a small squirrel while it is being attacked by a rampaging Kaiju monster in Metropolis - a moment that the first screening test audience hated. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gunn revealed that he fought to put the scene back on because according to him, it showed the empathetic and kind side of the Man of Steel. 'It was probably the second or third most hotly debated moment in the movie.' Gunn said. 'We showed it to test audiences and some people did not like the squirrel. They asked, 'Why is he saving a squirrel? Why is he taking time out, saving a squirrel?'' Gunn shared, 'There was a cut where I cut it out and I'm like, 'I really miss the squirrel. He's got to save the squirrel.' In addition, there were also some geographic problems with where he ended up if I didn't have him fly over with the squirrel. So I put the squirrel back in despite the protests of some people on my crew.' Previously in an interview with the New York Times, Gunn had said, 'A lot of people were anti-squirrel. They thought it was too much. And I think it really comes down to, do you like squirrels or not?' Test screen audiences have also regularly complained that the pacing in Gunn's films is 'too fast'. 'When you test movies, especially in the early test screenings, one of the main questions they ask is, 'Is it too slow? Is it too fast? Is it just right?' And my movies have always had an overabundance of 'too fast' compared to 'too slow',' revealed the director. Defending his choices, Gunn explained, 'I'm not indulgent. I just don't care about my little precious moments that are so important to me in making a movie. I want to create something that's as streamlined as possible, and if that means I go too fast, sometimes I do. And so it really is about pulling back.' Test screenings have become a regular process for studio films. However, they do not always reflect public taste. For example, Marvel director Kevin Feige once hyped up Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania by commenting, 'Jonathan Majors, playing the villain Kang, was the highest-testing villain we've ever had in any of our 'friends and families' [screenings].'' Despite this, the theatre audience remained unimpressed. The film flopped at the box office with $476 million worldwide and became one of Marvel's lowest grossers. Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Fantastic Four: First Steps projected for strong box office opening
Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four: First Steps is expected to deliver a strong domestic box office performance, with projections ranging between $100 million and $125 million for its opening weekend. Industry tracking points to a launch comparable to recent MCU titles like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Presales have already crossed $13 million, indicating solid momentum, though the numbers slightly trail behind this month's Superman debut. That film opened to $125 million domestically, setting a high bar for Fantastic Four to meet or exceed. The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family and introduces Galactus and Silver Surfer into the MCU. Analysts note that while Fantastic Four may not surpass Superman at launch, it could still mark Marvel's biggest domestic opening of the year. International projections remain optimistic. With Superman falling short overseas expectations, Fantastic Four could find additional box office strength outside the US, potentially lifting global totals beyond initial forecasts. As opening weekend nears, all eyes are on whether Fantastic Four: First Steps can capitalize on its star power, fan base, and franchise potential to reaffirm Marvel's standing at the box office in 2025.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Superman 2025 eyes $200 mn international box office debut as James Gunn and Peter Safran reboot DC Studios
James Gunn's new Superman movie is expected to bring in a massive global debut this weekend, with estimates pointing towards a $200 million-plus opening. This film marks the beginning of a new phase for DC Studios under Gunn and Peter Safran. The pressure is high, but so is the excitement. Superman will open in 78 territories this week, starting with France, Italy and Korea on Wednesday. Germany, Brazil, Australia and Mexico join in on Thursday, while big markets like the UK, Spain, China and Japan follow on Friday. The film will be shown on around 60,000 screens across the globe. With strong interest in Brazil, the UK and Mexico, Warner Bros expects a solid overseas turnout. China, where Superman is leading pre-sales for Thursday and Friday, could also play a big role in the overall numbers. US opening tracking between $115 mn to $130 mn According to Variety, Superman could earn between $115 million and $130 million over the weekend domestically. Preview screenings for Amazon Prime members have already sold out, and over 3,400 locations will open Thursday afternoon, increasing to 4,000 by Friday. Critics and fans agree: #Superman summer is officially here. 💫 Experience the certified fresh movie in theaters this Friday. Get tickets now: Presale numbers stand at $20 million in the US, putting it ahead of Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and close to Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film will also take over all premium screens in the US, which could give it an extra boost. Superman legacy returns with fresh energy Superman has already earned an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, matching the same rating as the original 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. That number is far better than Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (57%) or Batman v Superman (23%), and it could help convince older fans to return to theatres. Critics and fans praised the lighter tone of the movie, with many calling it a hopeful reboot of the franchise. The early buzz and fresh direction might just help Superman fly higher than expected. #Superman is Certified Fresh at 86% on the Tomatometer, with 87 reviews: For Warner Bros, the Superman brand has always been a prized one. The original movies helped shape the modern superhero genre, but the franchise lost momentum after the 1980s. This time, with Gunn writing, directing and producing, there's hope for a fresh beginning.
See - Sada Elbalad
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Michael Douglas Quits Acting at 80
Yara Sameh Michael Douglas, who is at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival to present a newly restored print of Miloš Forman's classic 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' — which he won an Oscar for as a producer on the 1970 classic — opened up about his future plans as an actor. The 80-year-old revealed that while he's not officially retired from acting, he has 'no real intentions' of returning to the big screen. 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,' Douglas said. 'I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' Douglas last appeared on the big screen in 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" and starred in 2024's "Franklin", an Apple TV+ biographical series about Ben Franklin. The projects finished filming three years ago, and Douglas hasn't worked in front of the camera since. The actor did hint at 'one little independent movie' that he is 'trying to get a good script out of,' but besides that project, he has no other plans to return to films, and is 'happy to play the wife' to Catherine Zeta-Jones. 'I am happy for Catherine to go to work – and she is very busy,' he said. The topic of Douglas' future came up after he discussed his battle with tongue cancer, pointing out his course of action allowed him another decade of roles. 'Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren't many choices, are there? I went with the program, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate,' he noted, adding that his friend and actor Larry Hagman died from a similar diagnosis. 'The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw, and that would have been limiting as an actor.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
Michael Douglas says he has 'no real intentions' of returning to acting
"If something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no," he said. 3:24 Michael Douglas is pressing pause on acting -- at least for now. While speaking recently at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where he presented a newly restored print of Miloš Forman's classic 1975 film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," which Douglas co-produced, the Oscar-winning actor opened up about his future in the industry. 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,' Douglas said, according to Variety. 'I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set.' He continued, 'I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' Douglas, who will turn 81 years old in September, last appeared on the big screen in 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," and most recently portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the 2024 Apple TV+ miniseries "Franklin." He's also set to star alongside his son, Cameron Douglas, in the upcoming film "Looking Through Water," which has yet to receive a release date. The conversation during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival press conference also touched on Douglas' past health struggles. Reflecting on his 2010 battle with stage 4 tongue cancer, he shared that he opted for chemotherapy and radiation over surgery, which would have involved removing part of his jaw and threatened his ability to speak and act. 'Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday but there aren't many choices, are there?' he said. 'I went with the program, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw and that would have been limiting as an actor.' Douglas, who is married to longtime wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, also revealed that he has 'one little independent movie' in the works but joked that these days that 'in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage,' he's 'happy to play the wife' to Jones.
