This issue does not have a movie review so enjoy this Hollywood gossip:
Hollywood
by Tony Rizzo
We told you that Daniel Craig, who said, “I’d rather slash my wrists than do another Bond film,” was sure to sign for the next Bond movie, tentatively titled “Bond 25.” What was really happening was that Craig was already contracted for the next Bond film, which producers conveniently didn’t tell us because they were trying to get Craig to sign for an additional 007 film. They stood by while columnists rambled on about Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston as the next Bond. That’s why he’d been offered $150 million to return for an additional Bond film.
To sweeten the deal, Christopher Nolan, riding high on rave reviews for “Dunkirk,” is all but set to direct, something producers knew would appeal to him as well. Quite a raise in pay grade for 007; Craig was paid “only” $39 million for his last Bond film, “Spectre.”
Oscar-nominee and Emmy-win- ner Benedict Cumberbatch will do at least three more films as “Doctor Strange”: “Thor: Ragnarok,” due Nov. 3; “Avengers: Infinity War,” due May 4; and the untitled “Avengers” sequel, due May 2019. Somewhere in between he’ll star in another “Doctor Strange,” now in development. When a film costs $165 million and grosses $670 million, you can bet a sequel is in the works.
In addition, he has “The Current War,” with Michael Shannon, Nicho- las Hoult and Tom Holland (“Spider- man”), due Dec. 22; the animated fan- tasy “Magik,” with Matthew Goode; will be the voice of Shere Khan in the new live-action “Jungle Book” (out October 2018); and will voice the Grinch in a new animated version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” opening November 2018. Could it be that he and wife Sophie Hunter, who have two young sons, wanted animated films the boys can watch?
Mark Wahlberg, who hit it big with “Transformers: The Last Knight,” will have “Daddy’s Home 2,” with Will Ferrell, John Cena, John Lithgow and Mel Gibson, opening Nov. 10. The original “Daddy’s Home” cost $69 million and grossed $243 million. He’s currently shooting the Ridley Scott crime drama “All the Money in the World,” with Michele Williams and Oscar-winners Kevin Spacey and Timothy Hutton, for a Dec. 8 release. Mark has been producing and star- ring in “Wahlburgers” since 2014 and exec produces the Dwayne Johnson HBO series “Ballers” (which returned July 23 for season three) and the USA series “Shooter” with Ryan Phillippe (which began season two on July 18).
© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.
