Blair Makes A Frightening Debut
he Blair Witch Project earned a frightening $28.5 million during its first weekend in wide release, far exceeding even the wildest industry expectations.
According to Variety, the film was shown in 1,101 theaters and earned an average of $25,885 per screen, surpassing the record set by Star Wars: Episode I in May.
Star Wars opened in 2,970 locations during its first weekend in wide release, taking in what was then a landmark $21,822 per screen. Blair is now expected to top the $100 million mark during its U.S. domestic run, which could make it one of the most profitable films of all time.
Blair was shot for a mere $100,000, and distributor Artisan Entertainment reportedly bought the film outright for what now seems like a paltry $1.1 million. It seems likely that Artisan will end up earning more than 100 times its initial investment.
Blair opened on an additional 1,000 screens on Friday, Aug. 6.
Blair Team Discusses Sequels
aniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, the writer-directors who created the fictional documentary The Blair Witch Project, are reportedly working on plans for a follow-up to their hit film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the now-famous duo has come up with four ideas for a second Blair project, including two possible prequels.
One potential story prequel would explore the ancient legend of the Blair Witch, while another would recount the tale of the 1940s serial killer mentioned in the film. One of the sequel ideas would follow the adventures of people who venture into the woods in search of the three missing filmmakers from Blair.
Finally, the fourth idea is being kept under wraps and has only been described as having a premise that is "out there." In other news, Blair star Joshua Leonard is in final negotiations to appear in the independent film In the Weeds and will then play a part in the studio feature Navy Divers.
Blair Sells, But Does It Scare?
he Blair Witch Project continued to scare up big money at the box office, earning $5.4 million on the first Monday following its weekend debut in wide release.
That figure is just shy of the $5.5 million Star Wars: Episode I picked up on the Monday after its premiere weekend, but the Force was also playing on about three times as many screens as Blair.
What's more, the Witch Project scored another $4.9 million on Tuesday, bringing its total earnings up to a hefty $46.47 million. That has now put Blair ahead of current box-office champ Runaway Bride, which boasts a dowry of $44.29 million.
However, Blair is starting to feel some critical backlash from moviegoers who apparently don't think the summer's scariest film is all that frightening. The New York Daily News reportedly cited an exit poll by CinemaScore Inc. that showed 360 out of 600 audience members who "couldn't wait" to see the film gave it just a C rating and that those who accompanied them gave it an F.
Alliance, Zyntopo Readying Pern TV Series
lliance Atlantis Communications and Zyntopo Teo are developing a one-hour TV series based on Anne McCaffrey's best-selling Dragonriders of Pern novels.
The show will combine live action with computer-generated effects and is slated to begin shooting in February 2000.
Eric Weymueller and Joanna Robinson from Zyntopo and Alliance president Seaton McLean will executive produce the series. Alliance holds the worldwide distribution rights to the show, while both companies share the merchandising rights.
In 1997 Zyntopo licensed the Dragonriders game rights to Grolier Interactive, which plans to release a Pern role-playing game called Dragonflight for both the PC and Sony PlayStation in early 2000.
Whedon Won't Write Alien V
oss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the script writer for Alien: Resurrection, says he won't pen the fifth Alien movie.
In an upcoming interview with the British magazine SFX, Whedon reportedly says he turned down the opportunity to work on the next Alien film because of the way the last one turned out.
Whedon also reveals that he's been hired to tweak the script for Bryan Singer's upcoming X-Men film. It seems the celebrated scribe is a huge fan of the mutant superheroes, and that he's been hired to make the characters "more likable."
Whedon also says that, contrary to rumors, Sarah Michelle Geller will not make an appearance in the film Hannibal.
Johnston Will Direct Jurassic 3
umanji director Joe Johnston has been hired by Universal to direct the third installment in the Jurassic Park film series.
According to Variety, Johnston may start production on the movie as early as 2000, though so far no details about the storyline are known.
Hotel de Love writer/director Craig Rosenberg is scripting the film in conjunction with Johnston. Michael Crichton, who wrote the books that served as the basis for the previous Jurassic films, will reportedly get a producing credit on the third movie.
The Jurassic franchise is Universal's most lucrative property, with worldwide box-office earnings of more than $1.5 billion.
Wtaa Readies Star Trek Water
anadian Cool Clear Wtaa and Starbase-1 Coffee are teaming up to launch a new brand of bottled water based on the film Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
In the film, Dr. McCoy mentions "Altair Water," which is supposedly bottled in the mountains of planet Altair VI and "is widely regarded as the galaxy's finest natural beverage."
Wtaa says it will use state-of-the-art water purification systems to create its 24th century Altair Water brand, which will carry a label that has been designed using various Star Trek icons. The bottled water will be available in the United States and Canada in sizes ranging from 12 ounces to 1.5 litres.
Starbase-1 Coffee is a company that makes, markets and distributes Star Trek themed gourmet food.
SCI FI Wants Your Confessions
he SCI FI Channel is developing a new half-hour talk show called SCI FI Confessions, and you may be able to help.
Producer Stuart Swezey is looking for residents of Southern California who have had paranormal experiences, UFO encounters or run-ins with other unexplained phenomena that they've kept to themselves.
The idea is that guests on the show will reveal their secrets to someone else for the first time, with a little help from two talkshow hosts. Those interested in participating should contact Steve Janas by e-mail at sfcon1@aol.com. Please note that the show is in the exploratory stages only, and no decision has been reached on whether it will air.
The Matrix Aims For 1 Million On DVD
Warner Home Video hopes to sell 1 million copies of The Matrix when the film makes its DVD debut in video stores on Sept. 21.
According to Variety, The Matrix will be released on the DVD-ROM format, which will allow computer users to pop the disc into their PCs and access special Internet options.
Using the Internet feature, The Matrix fans will be able to read the film's script and also check out more than 700 storyboards that were created for the movie. The directing team of Andy and Larry Wachowski also shot scenes specifically for the DVD release that will be available on the Internet, and Warner plans a live Webcast with the film's stars in October.
The Matrix DVD will be priced to sell at $24.98. Variety now reports that a VHS version of The Matrix will be released on Nov. 26 with an expected price of $14.95.
Wizards Announces D&D 3.0
Wizards of the Coast says it plans on releasing a third edition of its popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons in August 2000.
This will be the first comprehensive update to the 25-year-old game since the second edition hit store shelves in 1989.
Wizards promises that the new edition will provide intuitive and comprehensive game play for newcomers, while veteran gamers will find that many of their suggestions have been incorporated in the update. Some of the major changes include an integrated skill system, a standard resolution mechanic, the reintroduction of half-orcs, assassins and monks, and the removal of demi-human level limits.
Wizards plans to release the third edition Player's Handbook in August 2000, The Dungeon Master Guide in September 2000, and the Monster Manual in October 2000. Each book will retail for $19.95.
Gaiman's Stardust Earns Mythopoeic Award
Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed fairy-tale novel Stardust has earned the 1999 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature.
The award is presented annually to "the best fantasy novel for adults" published during the previous calendar year.
During his acceptance speech, Gaiman said he was certain that he would not earn the award since the Mythopoeic statue is such a handsome one. "The only awards I ever get are the ugly ones: awards in the shapes of bombs, springs, bricks, lumps of plastic, Easter Island, H.P. Lovecraft heads and the occasional unlovely wooden plaque," he joked.
The Mythopoeic Award is a statuette of a seated lion based on Aslan from C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. The Mythopoeic Society is a non-profit international literary and educational organization for the study, discussion and enjoyment of fantasy and mythic literature.
Briefly Noted
- TBS has snapped up the broadcast rights to Deep Blue Sea for a deal that could end up being worth as much as $15-$20 million, depending on how the film fares at the box office. HBO hooked the cable rights to the film.
- Sandra Bullock is reportedly interested in playing the title role in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Wonder Woman.
- Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi and James Woods have agreed to add their voices to the animated SF film Final Fantasy -- The Movie, according to Variety.
- Actors Chris Rock and David Hyde Pierce and producer Joel Silver have been signed to voice the lead roles in the Warner Bros. animated buddy picture Osmosis Jones. The film is about a blood cell, a cold tablet and a virus that battle it out inside the body of a construction worker named Frank Detomello.
- Kesmai Corp. said it's developing an online SF game called Multiplayer BattleTech3: 3025 that will support more 50,000 players simultaneously.
