Rentrak Corporation has announced the Top 10 DVD Sales and Rentals for the week and X-Men Origins: Wolverine has landed the no.1 spot in both categories.
The statistics are based on estimated consumer spending according to data collected for the week ending Stepember 20, 2009.
Wolverine's Jacket from the first 'X-Men' Movie
Before I say more, yes I’m aware this photo of Wolverine is from X-Men Origins: Wolverine and not the first X-Men movie. After searching and not finding an image quick enough I decided it really didn’t matter too much.
To be clear, this collectible is modeled on Wolverine’s Jacket from X-Men and not the one in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. But it’s close nonetheless.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, this replica jacket is advertised as having been “extensively researched and replicated using only the finest authentic materials as worn in X-Men, the first movie of the blockbuster trilogy” and as “the only jacket replicating all details and approved by both Marvel and 20th Century Fox.”
Megan Fox helped 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' lead the pack of films that broke the US Summer Box Office record
Though the figures aren’t final, the record for the highest Box Office summer in US history has now been broken.
The record was last broken in 2007 with $4.16 billion, but now 2009 has surpassed that figure with $4.17 billion. It is expected that the final official figure will be around $4.18M.
Genre films were the clear bread winners. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen led the way with $399.4M. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came in second with $294.3M. Star Trek ran fifth with $256.7M, X-Men Origins: Wolverine ran seventh with $179M, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’s $132.M is expected to pass Angels and Demons ($133.4M) to sneak into the top list once the final figures are in.
Source: Variety
Over the weekend X-Men Origins: Wolverine won the Teen Choice Award for the best action/adventure film.
“Who knows, maybe Wolverine will use one of these when he heads to Japan,” Hugh Jackman told the crowd as he held up the surfboard award.
Later MTV caught up with Jackman who was quick to clarify the surf comment was a joke. He then confirms that they’re working on the sequel now and that the sequel will follow the famous Japan based storyline from the 1982 Chris Claremont and Frank Miller four issue miniseries Wolverine.
Watch the interview after the jump.
Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins
Recent talk about the possibility of a Gambit feature film has been accompanied with the concern that Taylor Kitsch, who played Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, may not yet be capable of carrying a film as the lead. It seems those concerns are over for Kitsch has now been cast as John Carter of Mars in an epic new Disney sci-fi movie of the same name.
Just how epic is this movie? Wall-E writer/director Andrew Stanton is the writer/direct of John Carter of Mars. That’s probably all we need to hear, although you can add the fact that Empire Mag are referring to the film as being “Avatar big“. Whether or not that’s accurate, it nonetheless gives you an idea that this is going to be no small film.
John Carter of Mars is adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ sci-fi story the follows a Civil War veteran who, after being transported to Mars, finds himself partially super-powered thanks to the planet’s low gravity. There he becomes embroiled in a battle between the Martians and invading aliens.
Taylor Kitsch will be joined by fellow X-Men Origins: Wolverine star Lynn Collins, who played Silverfox in the Hugh Jackman film. She’ll be playing Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Mars. I can’t resist mentioning the irony that Gambit will end up snaring Wolverine’s girl.
Now that Kitsch is the lead in a huge movie, how long do you think it will be before his role in a Gambit feature film is announced? I’m guessing not long at all.
John Carter of Mars is expected in theaters during 2012.
Wolverine, a bad role model for children..because of the cigar?
The American Medical Association Alliance (AMAA) has launched a campaign aimed at publicly shaming film studios that include smoking in their movies – and they’re calling for an R rating on any movie that does.
As part of their campaign, AMAA President Sandi Frost has singled out X-Men Origins: Wolverine and its star Hugh Jackman as a prime example of a movie featuring excessive gratuitous smoking.
“Millions of children have been exposed to the main star of the film, Hugh Jackman, with a cigar in his mouth in various scenes,” Frost said. “I’m willing to bet that not one child would have enjoyed that movie or Mr. Jackman’s performance any less if he hadn’t been smoking.”
20th Century Fox have hit back, emphasizing that Wolverine only appears with his cigar in two scenes and that at no stage in the entire film is he actually smoking. In fact, he never lights the cigar up.
A spokesman for 20th Century Fox adds that in one of the scenes the cigar is shot out of Wolverine’s mouth, prompting him to suggest that its loss would lead to clean living – a clear anti-smoking statement.
The core of the AMAA’s concern is the level of influence films like Wolverine have on children who, in their view, will attempt to emulate what the hero of the film does.
They want an R rating for films that feature smoking – or a few seconds of a cigar in a mouth. Fortunately they don’t seem to be expressing any issue with children being exposed to revenge, war, execution, fighting and killing. Just don’t chew on a cigar.
And for the record, what happened to the ‘Parental Guidance’ in PG?
As of today Paramount’s Star Trek has taken the lead as the highest grossing film of the year.
Star Trek has now grossed $194.8M at the US Box Office giving it the edge over Paramount’s Monsters Vs Aliens ($193.9M).
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is at third place with $166M followed by Night at the Museum 2 ($76.7M) and Terminator Salvation ($71.8M).
Needless to say, Paramount are very happy right about now.
Source: showbizdata via airlock alpha
X-Men Origins: Wolverine producer Lauren Shuler has made no secret of the fact that her favorite X-Men character is Gambit. As the powerhouse behind the X-Men feature film franchise there’s no doubt in our mind that Shuler’s love for the character is playing a huge part in why as we speak internal discussions are underway on how to develop a Gambit spinoff movie.
There’s no doubt that 20th Century Fox are keen to do something with Gambit, so much so that there’s already been talk of X-Men and X2 director Bryan Singer helming the flick.
“Nothing would please me more than to bring Bryan [Singer] on for another movie,” Donner said. “And, if it’s like the first Deadpool or the first Gambit, I think, I mean, I hope he would be interested.”
There’s also no doubt that Taylor Kitsch, who played Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine would jump at the chance to reprise the role.
“I’m just excited to go deeper into Gambit. It’s a flattering thing when people say that the only shitty part about the character is we didn’t see enough of him. If that’s the case, bring it on. I want to go deep into Gambit,” Kitsch recently told Rotten Tomatoes.
20th Century Fox have confirmed X-Men Origins: Wolverine will premiere in Mexico City on May 26, The Insider confirms.
Wolverine is the first movie to be given the Mexican green-light since the outbreak of swine flu resulted in a host of feature film cancellations.
Additionally, Hugh Jackman will attend the premiere at the 9500-seat National Auditorium in Mexico City.
“I will bring Wolverine to Mexico City to provide a moment of fun escapism and a treat for some of the loyal fans of the comic,” Jackman messaged via Twitter.
The movie will officially open across Mexico on May 29.
Check out the following behind-the scenes videos from X-Men Origins: Wolverine which together feature seventeen minutes of on set footage including scenes that ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
As a warning, there’s plenty of spoileriffic goodness in these, so if you haven’t seen the film yet, we highly recommend avoiding the behind-the-scenes vids until you do.
Videos from Filmanchor and Trailer Addict.
