Showbiz Sandbox 519: A Year Without A Blockbuster Comic Book Movie
December 1, 2020
Though 2020 saw DC Films launch a Harley Quinn vehicle and Marvel finally released an X-Men spin-off “The New Mutants,” neither film set the world on fire. As “Wonder Woman 1984” heads to a hybrid streaming and theatrical release, it’s the final gasp of almost an entire year without any big comic book movies.
We ask veteran entertainment journalist Geoff Boucher whether we needed a break from all the cinematic heroics. As someone who has hosted countless CinemaCon panels, Boucher explains whether, after an endless stream of blockbuster Marvel and DC films, a year without a major comic book movie is such a bad thing.
Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Grammy Award nominations, Conan O’Brien is ending his late night talk show and why Quentin Tarantino’s next release may be headed straight to libraries.
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Geoff Boucher’s Mindspace
https://www.heavymetal.com/mindspace/
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Sets Global Release Dates
https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/wonder-woman-release-dates-1234839350/
Box Office: ‘The Croods 2’ Leads Sluggish Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-croods-2-opening-weekend-coronavirus-1234841734/
‘The Croods: A New Age’ Dawns With $21M Offshore; ‘Demon Slayer’ Sails Past ‘Titanic’ To Become 2nd Biggest Film Ever In Japan – International Box Office
https://deadline.com/2020/11/the-croods-a-new-age-opening-weekend-demon-slayer-japan-tenet-china-global-international-box-office-1234622859/
Roberto Benigni’s New ‘Pinocchio’ Movie Going Wide This Holiday Season
https://deadline.com/2020/11/pinocchio-roberto-benigni-christmas-day-theatrical-release-1234625141/
Universal Signs Deal with Canada’s Largest Cinema Chain to Shorten Theatrical Window
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/20/universal-inks-deal-with-cineplex-to-shorten-theatrical-window.html
Universal Notches Canada’s Cineplex With Dynamic Theatrical Window PVOD Pact Following AMC, Cinemark
https://deadline.com/2020/11/universal-cineplex-amc-cinemark-theatrical-window-pvod-1234619367/
Cinemark & Netflix Testing ‘Christmas Chronicles 2′ As Town Ponders Whether Big Circuits Will Book Rival Streamers’ Pics Post-‘WW84’/HBO Max Deal
https://deadline.com/2020/11/wonder-woman-1984-netflix-cinemark-christmas-chornicles-2-hbo-max-1234618909/
AMC Networks Cuts 10% Of U.S. Workers In Streaming-Focused Reorganization
https://deadline.com/2020/11/amc-networks-cuts-10-of-u-s-workers-in-streaming-focused-reorganization-1234617977/
ViacomCBS Unveils Post-COVID Work Model: 70% of Staff to Split Time Between Home and Office
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/viacomcbs-unveils-post-covid-work-model-70-of-staff-to-split-time-between-home-and-office-exclusive-1234836161/
The Weeknd Calls Out Recording Academy After Nominations Snub: ‘The Grammys Remain Corrupt’
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9489770/the-weeknd-lashes-out-recording-academy/
Grammys Snubs and Surprises: The Weeknd, Luke Combs and BTS
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/music/snubs-surprises-grammy-awards.html
Halsey Criticizes Grammys After Snub: ‘Handshakes and ‘Bribes” Determine Nominees
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/halsey-criticizes-grammys-snub-handshakes-201725976.html
Conan O’Brien to End TBS Late-Night Show in 2021, Sets Weekly HBO Max Variety Series
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/conan-obrien-tbs-ending-hbo-max-1234833815/
BuzzFeed Buying HuffPost From Verizon Media
https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/buzzfeed-buys-huffpost-verizon-media-1234835943/
Quentin Tarantino Sets Two-Book HarperCollins Deal
https://deadline.com/2020/11/quentin-tarantino-two-book-deal-harpercollins-novel-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-cinema-speculation-70s-movie-deep-dive-1234616927/
Star Wars Author Appeals to Disney in Fight Over Royalties
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster
Writers Groups Protest Audible Exchange Policy
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/84985-writers-groups-protest-audible-exchange-policy.html
Penguin Random House to Buy Simon & Schuster
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/books/simon-schuster-penguin-random-house.html
The Monster Publishing Merger Is About Amazon
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/11/penguin-random-house-simon-schuster-monster-about-amazon/617209/
Over 2BN Youtube Users Are Now Playing Music Videos Every Month
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/over-2bn-youtube-users-are-now-watching-music-videos-every-month/
Soundcloud’s Revenues Jumped 37% to $166m in 2019 – and It’s Just Posted Its First Ever Profitable Quarter
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/soundcloud-revenues-soared-by-37-in-2019-and-its-just-posted-its-first-profitable-quarter/
Scooter Braun Sells Taylor Swift’s Big Machine Masters for Big Payday
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/scooter-braun-sells-taylor-swift-big-machine-masters-1234832080/
Taylor Swift Confirms Sale of Her Masters, Says She Is Already Re-Recording Her Catalog
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-responds-scooter-brauns-sale-of-her-catalog-saying-1234833284/
Sandy Dvore, Emmy-Winning Graphic Artist and Title Designer, Dies at 86
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sandy-dvore-emmy-winning-graphic-artist-and-title-designer-dies-at-86
Diego Maradona, One of Soccer’s Greatest Players, Is Dead at 60
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/sports/soccer/diego-maradona-dead.html
Jery Hewitt, Stunt Coordinator on Dick Wolf Shows and Coen Brothers Films, Dies at 71
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jery-hewitt-stunt-coordinator-on-dick-wolf-shows-and-coen-brothers-films-dies-at-71
Jan Morris, Historian, Travel Writer and Trans Pioneer, Dies Aged 94
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/20/jan-morris-historian-travel-writer-and-trans-pioneer-dies-aged-94
Jan Morris, a Distinctive Guide Who Took Readers Around the World
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/21/books/jan-morris-appraisal.html
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