Showbiz Sandbox 552: Disney and the Great “Shang-Chi” Experiment
August 19, 2021
First Disney tried to shame Scarlett Johansson for daring to sue them over the studios distribution strategy on “Black Widow.” Then during an earnings call the company’s CEO described the upcoming Marvel “Shang-Chi and the Legend Of The Ten Rings” as an “interesting experiment.” Simu Liu, the star of “Shang-Chi,” was quick to push back on such thinking, saying “We are the underdog; the underestimated.”
Meanwhile, actor Johnny Depp believes he is an underdog as well these days, claiming in an interview with The Sunday Times that Hollywood is boycotting him. International film festivals are doing the exact opposite however, honoring Depp for his body of work.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including “Funny Girl” is headed back to Broadway, the television game show “Jeopardy” officially has two new hosts and production of “The Lord of the Rings” Amazon series moves from New Zealand to the United Kingdom.
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Comscore Worldwide Box Office
https://www.comscore.com/Insights/Rankings#tab_worldwide_box_office/
How Ryan Reynolds & Shawn Levy’s ‘Free Guy’ Triumphed At The Weekend Pandemic B.O. With A Great $28M+
‘Free Guy’ Unleashes $51M Global Bow; ‘The Suicide Squad’ Marches To $118M WW; ‘F9’ Tops $500M Overseas
https://deadline.com/2021/08/free-guy-the-suicide-squad-paw-patrol-f9-international-box-office-1234815225/
AMC Theatres and Warner Bros. Agree to Shorten Theatrical Window
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/amc-theatres-theatrical-window-bitcoin-1235037677/
Johnny Depp Donostia Award Defended by San Sebastian Festival Director
https://variety.com/2021/film/global/johnny-depp-honor-by-san-sebastian-festival-director-1235041084/
Netflix’s ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’ Shoots to Top of Movie Rankings Chart
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gunpowder-powder-nielsen-streaming-virgin-river-1234997223/
Mike Richards Confirmed as ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, Mayim Bialik to Front Primetime Specials
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/mike-richards-jeopardy-host-mayim-bialik-1235039354/
‘The Lord Of The Rings’ To Move Production To UK From New Zealand For Season 2
https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-lord-of-the-rings-season-2-move-production-uk-new-zealand-1234813857/
Beanie Feldstein Starring as Fanny Brice in Broadway Revival of ‘Funny Girl’
https://variety.com/2021/legit/news/beanie-feldsteinbroadway-revival-funny-girl-barbra-streisand-1235039384/
Discovery Takes Legal Action Against Poland Over ‘Assault’ On Media Freedom
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/13/media/discovery-poland-media-law/index.html
Snopes Co-founder David Mikkelson Admits to Plagiarizing Over 50 Articles
https://www.avclub.com/snopes-co-founder-david-mikkelson-admits-to-plagiarizin-1847484828
Neal Conan, Who Talked (and Listened) to the Nation on NPR, Dies at 71
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/business/media/neal-conan-dead.html
Pat Hitchcock, ‘Strangers on a Train’ Actress and Daughter of Alfred Hitchcock, Dies at 93
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pat-hitchcock-dead-alfred-daughter-1234995917/
Walter Yetnikoff, Powerful but Abrasive Record Executive, Dies at 87
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/arts/music/walter-yetnikoff-powerful-but-abrasive-record-executive-dies-at-87.html
Nanci Griffith, Singer Who Blended Folk and Country, Dies at 68
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/13/arts/music/nanci-griffith-dead.html
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