Abominable Reaches for the Top
In its inaugural weekend, Universal’s CGI-animated film Abominable climbed to the top at the box office, earning $20,8 million, reports the Box Office Mojo. Written and directed by Jill Culton, a former animator and storyboard artist at Pixar, Abominable follows a group of kids who befriend a young yeti stranded in a big city and embark on a trip to return him to his family in the Himalayas. The movie features voices by, among others, Chloe Bennet (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Eddie Izzard (The Lego Batman Movie) and Sarah Paulson (Glass, American Horror Story).
In the second place at the last weekend’s box office is Downton Abbey. Created and written by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), this period drama earned $14,5 million in its second weekend in cinemas. Crime drama Hustlers is in third place with $11,5 million. It: Chapter Two is still floating among the top five highest-grossing movies of the weekend. Now in the fourth place, it grossed $10,4 million last weekend. In the fifth place with $10,1 million is science fiction drama Ad Astra, produced, co-written, and directed by James Gray (Lost City of Z, Little Odessa, The Yards).
Netflix to Adapt Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone Fantasy Trilogy
Netflix announced the cast for its upcoming eight-part adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Shadow and Bone fantasy novels. According to Deadline, this cast includes Ben Barnes (Westworld), Freddy Carter (Pennyworth), Sujaya Dasgupta (Press), Daisy Head (Harlots), Danielle Galligan (Game of Thrones), Jessie Mei Li (Last Night in Soho), Archie Renaux (Voyagers), Simon Sears (Winter Brothers), Amita Suman (Doctor Who) and Kit Young (Endeavour). The series was developed by director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) and Eric Heisserer, the screenwriter behind movies like Arrival and Bird Box.
First published in 2012, Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy follows the adventures of Alina Starkov, a teenage orphan who unexpectedly learns she can use magic. Set in a world vaguely-inspired by the early 20th century Europe, Bardugo’s first trilogy of novels is more Young Adult in its tone. The follow-up duology Six of Crows is set in the same world and tells a heist story about a group of criminals and thieves planning a seemingly impossible robbery.
Ava DuVernay to Helm Another Comic Book Adaptation
Ava DuVernay will tackle yet another comic book adaptation. According to the AVClub, Academy Award-nominated director of Selma has just signed on to direct a pilot episode for the upcoming adaptation of the comic book titled DMZ. If picked up, the series will air on HBO Max next year, with Robert Patino (Sons Of Anarchy, Westworld) serving as its showrunner and executive producer.
First published by Vertigo in 2005, DMZ takes place in a not-too-distant future in which the USA is fighting a new civil war and island of Manhattan has become a demilitarized zone thanks to owning a nuclear weapon. DMZ was written and created by Brian Wood, with art by Riccardo Burchielli and Wood himself. DMZ ran for a bit over six years, ending after 72 issues in February 2012.
This will be a second comic book adaptation for DuVernay who, after creating, co-writing, and directing the Netflix drama miniseries When They See Us, is now getting ready to helm the movie adaptation of the DC Comic New Gods for Warner Bros.
