Hi-Def Consumer Spending Up 58 Percent Over Same Quarter Last Year

Blu-ray-enabled households now total 33.5 million, with consumer spending on the high-definition packaged-media format up 58 percent in the quarter, compared with the same period last year. The surge is due in part to a 60 percent jump in sales of catalog Blu-ray releases, led by Star Wars, Citizen Kane, Scarface and The Big Lebowski, among others. Electronic sellthrough of new-release movies increased 13 percent in the quarter. Overall, sellthrough for DVD and Blu-ray movies declined 4 percent to more than $1.7 billion, compared with $1.8 billion last year. When combined with electronic sellthough, sales of movies dropped less than 3 percent from the same period last year. PHOTOS: Netflix's 10 Most Rented Movies of All Time In addition to electronic sellthrough, transactional video-on-demand increased nearly 5 percent to $419 million, compared with $400 million last year. Subscription streaming revenue topped $255 million. Traditional brick-and-mortar video store rental revenue dropped more than 28 percent to $353 million from $495 million last year. It marks the first time that transactional VOD revenue surpassed traditional video store rental revenue. At the same time, subscription rental of DVD/Blu-ray increased nearly 5 percent to $607 million from $579 million. Kiosk revenue, which includes Redbox and Blockbuster Express, surged 23.3 percent to $414 million, compared with $335 million last year. Total rental revenue, excluding VOD, declined 2.4 percent to $1.37 billion from $1.4 billion. With VOD, total rental revenue declined less than 1 percent to $1.79 billion from $1.8 billion. Heading into the all-important fourth quarter, the DEG is confident that theatrical blockbusters entering the retail channel, including Captain America: The First Avenger, Cars 2, Cowboys & Aliens, The Hangover Part II, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, The Help, Kung Fu Panda 2, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Smurfs and Water for Elephants, will continue the positive trend into 2012. Related Topics Star Wars

Blockbuster drops prices in U.K.

Don't count out Blockbuster's brick-and-mortar stores just yet -- at least not in the U.K. The rental chain has announced a new initiative in its high street stores that will lower the rental price of many recent pics to 99p. ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1,'' ''Tron: Legacy'' and ''Meet the Fockers'' are among the titles the store will be renting for less; Blockbuster is also lowering the price of its video game rentals to 5 pounds for five nights. The price change also encompasses Blu-Ray. The store is trying to make renting physical copies of films, games and TV show more tech-friendly with a smartphone app that helps customers to reserve movies. The company also didn't miss the opportunity to take a shot at rival Netflix. ''(A)t a time when rivals are dealing with plunging share prices or over-extending themselves to deliver, it gives me and the rest of the Blockbuster team a huge sense of pride that we are in a position to be able to make this radical change,'' said commercial director Gerry Butler in a release. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

P Niro, Travolta looking for 'Killing Season'

P NiroTravoltaMillennium Films and Corsan Pictures have set Robert P Niro and Travolta Qantas Video to star within the actioner "Killing Season."Mark Steven Manley ("Ghost Driver") will direct from the script by Evan Daugherty ("Snow Whitened and also the Huntsman").Occur the Appalachian Mountain tops, pic will begin production Jan. 16De Niro will have a united states military veteran that has retreated to some remote cabin within the forest, where he strikes up an unlikely friendship having a rare customer. Travolta plays the second character, a European tourist who's really an old Serbian soldier bent on revenge.Nu Image/Millennium takes charge on worldwide sales in the American Film Market now, in consultation with Corsan."I have loved this project as soon as I just read Evan Daughterty's amazing script," stated Corsan Boss Paul Breuls. "It's thrilling, imaginative, unpredicted and centered by two remarkable figures on the collision course. I am happy this film is getting into production and also to be joined with Avi Lerner and the team at Millennium.""We are excited to become co-financing and co-creating this film with Corsan, and also to work again with Robert P Niro and Travolta Qantas Video,Inch stated Nu Image/Millennium topper Avi Lerner. "We have never witnessed both of these great stars on the watch's screen together before, and we are excited to determine what comes from the combination."Belgium-based Corsan, which lately created and funded "The Devil's Double," is presently in pre-production on Roland Emmerich's "Singularity."P Niro and Manley are repped by CAA, while WME reps Travolta. UTA and FilmEngine repetition Daugherty. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

IDA sets documentary nominees

By Dork McNARY The Worldwide Documentary Assn. has drawn on a quintet of game titles because of its feature award: "Better Our Planet,Inch "How you can Die in Or," "Nostalgia for that Light," "The Redemption of General Butt Naked" and "The Littlest Place." The IDA introduced the noms Thursday. Those who win is going to be introduced 12 ,. 2 in the DGA in Hollywood. "Better Our PlanetInch is Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane p la Vega's account of two boyhood buddies from Midland, Texas, who find yourself arrested on terrorism charges in the 2008 Republican National Convention "How you can Die in Or" is Peter Richardson's portrait of the items this means to die with dignity "Nostalgia" is really a personal journey from Chilean director Patricio Guzman Daniele Anastasion and Eric Strauss' "Butt Naked" confronts hard questions regarding both energy and limits of forgiveness and "The Littlest Place" is Tatiana Huezo's story of the annihilated Salvadorian town. 5 nominated films within the short category are "Damaged Doorways," Goro Toshima's take a look at a youthful, destitute couple, battling to outlive around the roads of Hollywood Barbara Hammer's "Maya Deren's Sink," a tribute towards the mother of avant-garde American film "Minka," Davina Pardo's story about architecture, memory and also the concept of home Sara Nesson's "Poster Girl," a portrait of the all-American high-school cheerleader switched poster girl for ladies in combat battling using the debilitating results of publish-distressing stress order and "The Players of Quigang," Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon's take a look at villagers inside a remote district of China who fight a chemical company. IDA also introduced the best feature and short award those who win would again be selected by IDA's people with an innovative online viewing and voting process. 5 nominees for that Ongoing Series Award are "30 for 30" (ESPN Films), "American Experience" (WGBH), "The Passionate Eye" (CBC), "POV" (American Documentary Corporation. and POV) and "Vanguard" (Current). Limited Series nominees are "Boomtown" (Planet Eco-friendly), "If God Would Like and also the Creek Don't Rise" (Cinemax Documentary Films), "On Series" (Current), "Michael Feinstein's American Songbook" (PBS) and "The Nation's Parks Project" (Discovery World HD). Nominees for that IDA Humanitas Award are "The Company" (Maggie Betts, director), "How you can Die in Or" (Peter Richardson), "The TrainingInch (Ramona Diaz), "Position One of the Stars" (Leonard Retel Helmrich) and "The Littlest Place" (Tatiana Huezo). Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Lionsgate buys Mark Heyman's Facebook pic

HeymanAronofskyFollowing months of negotiations, Lionsgate has closed a deal to acquire "Black Swan" scribe Mark Heyman's spec script "XOXO," an elevated genre tale set in the world of Facebook, where things aren't always as they seem.Darren Aronofsky and Michael London ("Sideways") will produce through their respective shingles Protozoa Pictures and Groundswell Prods., whose Kelly Mullen brought in the project and will also be involved in a producing capacity.Described as "Fatal Attraction" for the digital age, story follows an on-the-rise executive who despite being engaged, enjoys flirting online, where he meets an alluring woman on Facebook. The two begin a virtual relationship, but as the line between online temptations and real-life possibilities begins to blur, the protag soon discovers that his Internet relationship is seeping into his actual life ... in a deadly way.Like Lionsgate's own 2005 thriller "Hard Candy," "XOXO" explores misleading digital identities, as the film also makes use of streaming video and other social-media platforms. These online interactions will be made more cinematic by employing stylized visual sequences, though no director has been brought on board yet.Alli Shearmur and Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate's heads of production, will spearhead the upscale thriller together for the studio.Heyman is Aronofsky's producing partner who was nominated for a WGA award for co-writing Aronofsky's Fox Searchlight pic "Black Swan" with Andres Heinz and John J. McLaughlin. Pic grossed $329 million worldwide en route to five Oscar nominations. Heyman and Aronofsky are currently developing sci-fi tale "Machine Man" for Mandalay Pictures, and he has also written "Age of Rage" for Fox Searchlight and director Marc Webb.CAA reps both Aronofsky and Heyman, who is also repped by Management 360. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

More Particulars Emerge About Joss Whedon's 'Much Ado About Nothing'

The Web did a collective backflip within the news that Joss Whedon had apparently shot an adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' secretly with his usual repertory gamers (Nathan Fillion, Alexis Denisof and Clark Gregg). Well, it's correct, along with a new pr release offers up more particulars in the film. Whedon's 'Much Ado About Nothing' shot in 12 days "positioned on location in exotic Santa Monica" states a pr release from Bellwether Films (through the NY Occasions), a business founded by Whedon and the wife, Kai Cole. For the film itself, Denisof and Amy Acker will have Benedick and Beatrice Fillion and Gregg are Dogberry and Leonato and Fran Kranz and Jillian Morgese will have Claudio and Hero. Not sure yet on the release date, but expect it between 2012. 'Much Ado About Nothing' "ought to be performed by springtime and headed for that festival circuit, since it is fancy," stated the discharge. [via NYT/ArtsBeat] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Durand lines up 'Evil,' 'Truth'

DurandKevin Durand is stay busy both in the indie and commercial area, booking roles within the next installment from the "Resident Evil" franchise, "Resident Evil: Retribution" and also the indie film "The Reality.InchIn "Resident Evil: Retribution," Durand will join Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez with Paul W.S. Anderson pointing and scripting.With "The Reality,Inch Damian Lee will direct stars Andy Garcia, Avoi Longoria and Forest Whitaker.Within the pic an old CIA operative-switched-political talkshow host, performed by Garcia, is hired with a corporate whistleblower to reveal her company's coverup of the massacre in South American village."Resident Evil" is presently in production and Durand is anticipated to leap into "The RealityInch after.Durand was most lately observed in DreamWorks' "Real Steel" and "I'm # 4.InchHe's repped by WME and Alchemy Entertainment. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Bethenny Frankel Addresses Skinnygirl, Lost at Sea Controversies on 'Today' (Video)

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Real Housewives of NY City star Bethenny Frankel joined Matt Lauer on Today Monday morning to address the attacks that been made against her in the media over the amount of money she had received for the sale of her Skinnygirl line of cocktails to liquor distributor Beam Global. "I'm thinking about my fans who I love and who created my success and who I have a responsibility to, and the reason that I've spent the last couple of weeks simply defending myself from lies is to speak to them," she told Lauer. "We're in a world where people believe the last thing they see on the computer." The Hollywood Reporter had previously reported that Frankel received $120 million. But a blogger on Huffington Post reported she only received $8.1 million. Frankel has called that report "completely inaccurate." PHOTOS: Hollywood's Twitter Feuds "The number is irrelevant to me," she told Lauer. "The least interesting thing about me is how much money I have." When Lauer pointed out that the Huffington Post had issued a correction on their story, Frankel responded, "The bottom line is that the public believes these irresponsible bloggers who just write anything they want. You have to trust your news sources." She also addressed the controversy surrounding her supposed "lost at sea" incident. Lauer asked about the veracity of that episode. "My sound guy doesn't know how to swim," she responded. "They lost a lot of the tapes because of salt damage. The towboat man who accused me of lying has been put on a gag order. What he's effectively saying is that we called the coast guard. It's like calling 911 without an emergency. I'd be in jail probably." Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Bethenny Frankel The Real Housewives of NY City

Val Kilmer Sells Nearly All NM Ranch For $18.5M

First Launched: October 14, 2011 11:26 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images SANTA Further erectile dysfunction, N.M. -- Caption Val Kilmer attends Twixt Press Line throughout Comic-Disadvantage 2011 in Hillcrest, Calif., about this summer time 23, 2011 Val Kilmer has offered nearly all his 5,300-acre ranch in northwest New Mexico with a Texas coal and oil executive and also the wife for $18.5 million. The Santa Further erectile dysfunction New Mexican looks at the deed transfer filed Sept. 30 while using San Miguel County Clerks Office signifies Kilmer offered essentially 141 acres to Benjamin A. Strickling III and also the wife, Roxann. Santa Further erectile dysfunction attorney Take advantage of H. Scheuer handled the agreement for Kilmer and declined to go over when the star whose movies include Tombstone, 'Top Gun as well as the Entrance doors would live in northern New Mexico. The ranch initially was put in the marketplace this past year for $33 million. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NBC Orders Six More Prime Suspect Scripts

Prime Suspect, Maria Bello NBC is remaining around the beat with Det. Jane Timoney. The network has purchased six more scripts of Prime Suspect, a show repetition verifies. NBC orders six more scripts of Harry's Law This news, first reported by Deadline, follows an identical script order for sophomore drama Harry's Law previously Wednesday. The Maria Bello-headlined remake from the BBC series first showed soft, only drawing in six million audiences along with a 1.8 rating within the grown ups age range 18-49 demo. However, the show has held steady and it is taking pleasure in elevated exposure after overtaking the Mondays at 10/9c time slot formerly held through the Playboy Club. To date this year, NBC has canceled Playboy Club and Free Agents, and purchased full seasons of Up Through The Night and Whitney. Are you currently excited for additional Prime Suspect?

Bad Movies We Love: Father of the Bride Part II

A friend of mine once explained to me her chief problem with movies: “I don’t like when movies have conflicts. Can’t we just hang out with the characters and make jokes and have fun? It’s nicer that way.” This week’s Bad Movie We Love answers that harebrained prayer with a conflict-free plot, a smiley disposition from beginning to end, and a huge helping of total irrelevance. It’s the 1995 sequel Father of the Bride Part II starring The Big Year’s lead amigo Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and a company of stress-free actors. Father of the Bride Part II is the cinematic equivalent of vanilla ice cream with butterscotch syrup: old-fashioned, tasty, and fit for consumption on a Sunday afternoon with your grandparents. Put in your dentures and watch the sedatest version of a “wild and crazy guy” you’ll ever see. Though it’s a remake of the Spencer Tracy/Elizabeth Taylor sequel Father’s Little Dividend, Father of the Bride Part II kicks off where the 1991 “original remake” left off: Steve Martin and Diane Keaton remain an upper-middle class, beige-loving couple with a married daughter. Awww. Happy! Clappy! But when their daughter declares she’s pregnant, Martin and Keaton don’t realize they have a surprise of their own: Keaton is pregnant too! Ohhhhhh. This will lead to all sorts of confusion, such as… nothing. There is no confusion. There is no conflict. This is a movie about a pregnant middle-aged woman, her pregnant daughter, their husbands, quaint narration, and spurts of infomercial-grade zaniness from wedding planners Martin Short and B.D. Wong. It is chronically pleasant. You may wonder why you should see such an inconsequential piece of Sunday schmaltz, and the stork has some shocking news for you: You will watch this movie 50 fucking times. You will watch it in the mornings. During summer. On weekday evenings. In winter. On TBS. On Demand. On Netflix Instant. You will love it. It will mean nothing. It will be your everything. It will help you live. With its barrels of zilch. And aisles of smiles. Smile! Smile. Sleepy now. Go to sleep. Steve Martin loves you. Diane Keaton whisks you into the arms of Morpheus. La-la. Thank you. More formally, there are five reasons to pick up Father of the Bride Part II for repeat viewings. Essentially, screenwriter Nancy Meyers should’ve called it It’s Even Less Complicated. Enticed yet? 5. You say, “Prostate,” I say “HAHA-state!” It’s a case of mistaken identity in the hospital when a sleep-deprived George (Steve Martin) is confused for a patient who needs a prostate exam. Do you like butt-tickle humor? Welcome to paradise. In a classic moment of “AH! Let me get to know you first!” snap reaction, Steve Martin flies out of the exam room with a frightened zeal that recalls his ’70s SNL heyday. 4. A nursery that Anne Geddes might call “a little overdone” Martin Short reprises his role from the first film as Franck Eggelhoffer, the wedding planner who decides to decorate the nursery for George’s new baby. George is unconvinced that Franck will deliver a decent room, but he’s astonished to find that Franck has crafted a beautiful space with just the right accoutrement. Meanwhile, we’re astonished to find that Franck has crafted a scary menagerie of stuffed animals, insane furniture, and Hallmark Channel lighting. It frightens me. It looks like a cemetery for A.A. Milne characters. I’m traumatized and can’t look away. 3. Speaking of horrifying menageries, here are two storks that showed up at the baby shower. Not kidding. 2. Diane Keaton rehearses for The First Wives Club in front of you. We can argue about Diane Keaton’s best work, but no one can deny that her most important role was that of Annie MacDuggan Paradis in The First Wives Club. Deal? Shut up. Strapped to a prosthetic belly in Father of the Bride Part II, we watch as Keaton lunges and squats to prepare for the difficult choreography of her future work with Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler. She’s even wearing unflattering, tight whites. If you can keep your eyes off of flailing Ed Grimley for three seconds, you’ll sigh in adoration at Keaton’s seminal training. 1. A horrifying glimpse of Steve Martin without silver hair Remember what I said about this movie being vanilla ice cream with butterscotch syrup? That still applies, but now there’s a razor blade in the second scoop, and Steve Martin put it there. Try not to impale your gums on this photo of the banjo man, who spends the first 15 minutes of the movie enjoying a midlife crisis, with mousey brown hair. You’ll notice that he looks like Ray Combs now, and the survey says, “I can’t handle this.” He has no character with brown hair! It’s like Jennifer Hudson in a size-4 wrap dress or January Jones when she wears a real emotion: The essence is gone! Diane Keaton, your exasperation hits the mark, as usual. Read more of Movieline’s Bad Movies We Love.

Sony Grapples With PlayStation Attacks And Faulty TV Parts

It’s a lousy morning for Sony. The company has locked 93,000 PlayStation Network user accounts — including 35,000 in the U.S. — following yet another round of cyberattacks on Friday and Monday, Bloomberg reports. The company says that hackers gained data elsewhere on the Web to access the Sony customers’ accounts –but they didn’t get anything serious like credit card data.Still, some users may be concerned considering that the system had to be temporarily closed in April following similar attacks. Chairman Howard Stringer apologized for that breech. Meanwhile Sony is offering to provide free repairs for nearly 1.6M Bravia TV sets sold since 2007. The company has discovered thata defective part involved in the LCD screen backlights could cause them to melt.

Charter Looks For CEO After Michael Lovett Says Hell Leave By Early 2012

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) (“Charter” or the “Company”) today announced that it is implementing a CEO succession plan following President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Lovett advising the Board of Directors of his personal decision to step down as President and CEO on April 30, 2012 or earlier if a successor is appointed before that time. Charter’s Board of Directors will begin the process of evaluating candidates, and Mr. Lovett will remain in his present positions during this transition period. Mr. Lovett joined Charter in August 2003 and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2010. Prior to that, he served as Charter’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Ali Landry Welcomes Son

First Published: October 11, 2011 10:04 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Ali Landry attends the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundations A Time For Heroes Event at Wadsworth Theater on the Veterans Administration Lawn in Los Angeles on June 12, 2011Its a boy for Ali Landry! The star, 38, and director husband Alejandro Monteverde welcomed their second child to the family on Sunday, Access Hollywood has confirmed. The baby boy, named Marcelo Alejandro, was born in Los Angeles. Little Marcelo weighed in at 8 lbs. and measured 21 inches long. The former Miss USA and former Doritos girl previously told People that she was really nervous about the possibility of having a boy and was using grilled cheese sandwiches to cure her morning sickness during her pregnancy. Ali and Alejandro, 34, are also parents to 4-year-old daughter Estela. The couple married in April 2006. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Why Tom Cruise Still Matters inside the Film Industry

By Borys Package and Jay A. Fernandez October 10, 2011 Tom Cruise can make a great Survivor contestant. Despite his peculiar public image and less-than-stellar domestic box office lately, the 49-year-old has four large studio movies striking theaters over the following 18 several days: "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" in December, the now-filming "One Shot" for Vital, June's "Rock old range" for completely new Line as well as the untitled Ernest Kosinski sci-fi epic for Warner Bros. And "THR" finds that Warners is again speaking for the actor for your lead within the large-budget sci-fi war pic "We Mortals Are" (also called "You Simply Need Kill"), being directed by Doug Liman."The art galleries are interested in him again," states one producer.This type of turnaround. When "Mission: Impossible III" opened up up in May 2006, the actor happen to be under siege for his over-excited The famous host the famous host oprah appearance, his public stumping for Scientology and also the anti- psychiatry rant on Today. "MI-3's" $398 million worldwide gross was nearly thirty percent underneath the prior film's global take.Vital soon cut ties with Cruise/Wagner Prods., then "Lions for Lamb" bombed in 2007 for MGM, where Cruise had absorbed as mind of the United states . Artists label, a gig which introduced nowhere. Meanwhile, his November 2006 marriage to Katie Holmes made an appearance only to provoke mass eye-moving.An apology-laden PR offensive removed a couple of from the injury to Cruise's status. But while his funny cameo in "Tropic Thunder" came praise, "Valkyrie" and "Dark day and night" were considered under- artists, no less than inside the U.S. "War in the Cell phone industry's" was his last unqualified success, with $591 million in worldwide grosses throughout summer season 2005 -- a very long time ago in Hollywood terms. So what's behind his sudden revival?One: Need. Celebs are an progressively rare breed, and completely new ones aren't strengthening. Cruise still provides worldwide, as evidenced with the $186 million foreign gross for "Dark day and night," which he gets the benefit of searching (and playing) youthful than his years. He's also hands on, reliable and invested. "For those who have somebody with this particular good a brief history, more often than not there's the chance from the crowd to assist that each they've stood a extended relationship with," states Paramount's Make the most of Moore, who sees the completely new Jack Reacher character in "One Shot" because the second Cruise franchise.Two: Goodwill. "He's effective in wooing people," states one studio professional. "He helps it be vital that you satisfy generation x of professionals and is probably the handful of stars who has run out of his approach to shake people hands to acquire within their good books." According to affiliates, one person Cruise is becoming close to is Skydance Productions leader David Ellison, who's co-financing both "Protocol" and "One Shot" and shares Cruise's adoration for planes and flying.Three: Adaptability. Cruise and also the CAA agents have shown being flexible on dealmaking, meaning he's working cheaper sometimes -- sources say he's getting just $5 million for "Age groupsInch -- and creating deals to lessen upfront costs in exchange for post sales participation that has greater upside in success.Four: Commitment. Cruise has always understood this type of celebrity is and the way he's made to behave, and he's been tireless in playing that role. Excepting the chaotic problems of 2005-06, he's been a smart public figure "willing to do the job to become a celebrity," while you producer puts it. Unlike Russell Crowe or Jim Carrey, who rarely try to fix breaks utilizing their fans, Cruise, like friend Will Cruz, can be a constant, passionate campaigner for his or her own fame. That convenience for the wider world means 100s of millions in ticket sales.Cruise is not as large a star while he was formerly. But his approval ratings among filmgoers seem to possess switched most, even if he's much much softer- than-preferred traction while using under- 25 demo and several area of the feminine audience. "Anecdotally, the polarization you once heard isn't here any more,Inch states a Hollywood marketing consultant. And also the overseas prowess remains strong -- the comfort around the world still loves Maverick.Cruise Pros And Cons - Oprah's Couch (May 2005): His public image takes a hit when, professing the love for Katie Holmes, he jumps the couch.- "War in the Cell phone industry's" (June 2005) Rebounds by utilizing Steven Spielberg as alien invasion movie grosses $592 million worldwide.- "South Park" Parody (November. 2005): The "Locked in the Closet" episode mocks him, and Comedy Central cancels a rerun.- "Mission: Impossible III" (May 2006) His third outing as agent Ethan Search disappoints, stalling at $398 worldwide.- Exit Vital (August. 2006): Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone sours on him, ending his 14-year relationship while using studio.- Enter United states . Artists (November. 2006): He and creating partner Paula Wagner customize the mission resurrecting UA.- "Dark day and night" (2010): American audiences aren't impressed, nevertheless the movie greater than doubles its domestic gross of $76 million overseas.

'30 Rock': James Marsden Lands Multiepisode Arc

Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesJames Marsden James Marsden is making his way through the Emmy-nominated comedy series. The actor, who guest starred last season on Emmy winner Modern Family, has booked a multiepisode role on NBC's 30 Rock, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Details on Marsden's role are being kept under wraps but he'll stick around for six episodes of the Tina Fey comedy. The X-Men and Hairspray star most recently appeared in Screen Gems' Straw Dogs and has a number of film projects in the pipeline, including Robot and Frank and As Cool as I Am. Up All Night star Will Arnett is also set to reprise his role as gay shark Devon Banks when 30 Rock's sixth season returns next year. The series has a long roster of notable guest stars, including Tom Hanks, Conan O'Brien, Matt Damon, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Sheen, James Franco and Will Ferrell. Marsden is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit James Marsden Tina Fey 30 Rock Fall TV Preview

Werner Herzog Is Tom Cruise's 'One Shot' Nemesis

In what's probably the most surprising casting news in a while, it appears that famous documentarian Werner Herzog has been cast in the upcoming Tom Cruise vehicle, "One Shot," based on the Lee Child novel of the same name. Herzog will play The Zec, a former prisoner of war and the head of the conspiracy behind the murders Cruise will investigate, reports Variety. Since the casting of Tom Cruise as Child's iconic character, Jack Reacher, in the adaptation of "One Shot," many people have questioned the casting choice and the integrity of the film as a whole. Lee describes Reacher as a hulking presence, a far cry from the much shorter Cruise. For a movie that's faced little else besides negative press, news of Herzog joining the cast should inject much needed life into the hype machine. Those who are familiar with the German auteur know the kind of strangeness Herzog can bring to the table. Famous for the documentaries he narrates himself—like the great "Grizzly Man"—Herzog with his oddly beautiful German accent (think of a cross between Schwarzenegger and Morgan Freeman; indeed, it inspired Hugo Weaving's "Captain America" voice!) is the most inspired choice to play a movie villain in quite some time. If people won't fill the theater to see a shorter Jack Reacher, a great baddie could definitely get more people interested. Herzog joins a cast that already includes Robert Duvall, Rosamund Pike and Richard Jenkins. This is all welcome news, but for my money, I'd pay to see Tom Cruise face off with just the disembodied voice of Werner Herzog. Tell us what you think of the Herzog news in the comments section and on Twitter!

Thanks to Lion King 3D, Disney Will Re-release Beauty & the Beast, Little Mermaid, and More in 3-D

“Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?” Insert “piles of The Lion King 3D cash” for “stuff” and you’ll see why Disney’s planning to roll out even more retro hits in similar fashion in the next few years. Why leave those catalogue classics in the vault when they can bring in as much as $80 million more a pop? Having proven that giving older films a shiny new 3-D facelift can bring in the dough, and how, Disney announced that they’ll give four additional films the Lion King 3D treatment in 2012 and 2013: Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. Each of the four films selected for re-release were critical and commercial successes upon initial release; Finding Nemo in particular counts among the highest-grossing films of all time just beneath The Lion King, having brought in $867.8 million during its 2-D theatrical run. The line-up: Beauty and the Beast - January 13, 2012 DisneyPixar’s Finding Nemo - September 14, 2012 DisneyPixar’s Monsters, Inc. - January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013) The Little Mermaid - September 13, 2013 It’s easy to criticize the move as a blatant cash-grab, but really; audiences made The Lion King 3D number one at the box office for two weeks, so it clearly fulfilled a demand among the family demographic. The next four Disney re-releases aren’t quite as universal in appeal if you ask me (excluding The Little Mermaid, which is one of my childhood favorites and the sole offering of the bunch I’d pay to see in theaters again). And if Disney makes a killing bringing great films to a new generation of tykes, then more power to them. My only quibble: Why do I have to wait two more years to see Ariel flippin’ around on the big screen?? [Press release]