Monday, May 20, 2019

Lionsgate Sets 2021 Release Date For 'John Wick: Chapter 4'


VARIETY: John Wick will be back in exactly two years and a day.

Lionsgate announced Monday that it has scheduled “John Wick 4” for May 21, 2021. The studio made the announcement via a text message to fans: “You have served. You will be of service. John Wick: Chapter 4 is coming – May 21, 2021.”

Lionsgate released no other details on the heels of an opening weekend that saw “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” handily win the North American box office with a $56.8 million opening. That was nearly double the fourth weekend of “Avengers: Endgame” at $30 million.

Lionsgate’s third installment of the Keanu Reeves action franchise over-performed forecasts, which had been in the $30 million to $35 million range. It took in more than the combined opening weekends of its predecessors; the first “John Wick” debuted with $14.4 million in 2014 and 2017’s “John Wick: Chapter Two” launched with $30.4 million. Critics gave high marks to “John Wick 3” with an 88% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” bowed with $35 million from 66 international markets. The movie sees Reeves return as an ex-hitman on the run from assassins. Stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski helmed the movie, written by series creator Derek Kolstad. Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick also star.

Reeves’ character returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.

“John Wick 4” is the second title to land on May 21, 2021. It joins Warner Bros.’ “DC Super Pets” on the date.

'John Wick 3' Rockets To Strongest Opening Yet With $57M


NY Times: The third “John Wick” movie arrived to stronger-than-expected ticket sales, returning Keanu Reeves to the top of the box-office chart for the first time in 11 years and giving Lionsgate a much-needed shot in the arm.

“John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum,” which finds the title’s super-assassin (Reeves) on the run from other contract killers, collected about $57 million at theaters in the United States and Canada over the weekend, according to Comscore. The R-rated Lionsgate series has grown remarkably more powerful with each installment: “John Wick: Chapter 2” had $30 million in initial ticket sales in 2017, improving on the $15 million that “John Wick” collected over its first three days in 2014.

That kind of audience expansion — extremely rare — is a dream result for Lionsgate, which has been struggling to turn around its movie operation, in part because Netflix has started to crank out the type of low- and mid-budget films in which Lionsgate has long specialized. Why go to theaters to see these diversions when Netflix is pumping them into your living room?

Last year, Lionsgate released 19 movies through various labels and took in a total of $379 million in North America, its worst showing since 2007. Lionsgate’s most recent releases, “Hellboy” and “Long Shot,” were both bombs. Tyler Perry delivered a hit in March with “A Madea Family Funeral,” but it was the last film that Mr. Perry intends to supply to Lionsgate, ending a 14-year run. He has a new alliance with Paramount.

Lionsgate said on Sunday that “John Wick: Chapter 3” collected an additional $35 million in partial release overseas. The film received strong reviews from most critics. David Gross, who runs Franchise Entertainment Research, a movie consultancy, said the results put the series “on outstanding footing going forward” and said it was now “an elite action thriller franchise.”

“John Wick: Chapter 3,” which stars Halle Berry in a supporting role, cost an estimated $75 million to make and roughly $40 million to market. The last time Reeves had a No. 1 opening was in 2008 with “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Halle Berry Spills Her Guts On 'The Late Late Show'



Hot on the promotional trail for 'John Wick 3', Academy Award-winner Halle Berry was a guest on 'The Late Late Show with James Corden' with her co-star Anjelica Huston, where the duo engage in a revealing game of 'Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts'.

For you info, the two actors that she is referring to are Wesley Snipes, who went to jail in 2010, and Robert Downey Jr., who famously broke her arm on the set of 'Gothika'.

Later in the show, they were joined by Allison Williams, where Berry dished on her hot Instagram photo with the spine tattoo and the safety (or lack thereof) of cooking topless.



Halle Berry Brings Edge To LA Premiere Of 'John Wick 3'



Looking badass in leather, Halle Berry reunited with Keanu Reeves and the rest of the 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parbellum' cast at the Los Angeles premiere of the third installment at the TCL Chinese Theater on Wednesday, May 15th.


The ageless star wore a black leather Teresa Helbig romper which was unbuttoned to show off some cleavage, with a black belt around the waist and black stiletto heels.


(Photos Courtesy of Daily Mail)

Halle Berry Supports Keanu Reeves At His Hand/Foot Ceremony



On Tuesday (May 14th), Halle Berry was by her co-star Keanu Reeves' side as he was honored with a hand-and-foot print ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, where the 52-year-old beauty looked great in a white and black Teresa Helbig dress that had a high collar and a large keyhole opening in front.


Also in attendance at the event were their co-stars Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Asia Kate Dillon and Mark Dacascos.


(Photos Courtesy of Daily Mail)

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Halle Berry Provides Details On Directorial Debut 'Bruised'



In a new interview, Academy Award winner Halle Berry finally discloses some details of her directorial debut, 'Bruised', which is slated to film this summer, and talks about why this mother and son relationship made her want to tackle dual roles for the project.

At 52, Halle Berry fulfills one of her dreams—direct a feature film for the first time. The actress revealed in our recent interview that she’s preparing to direct an action-drama, “Bruised,” in the East Coast this summer in the United States.

“It’s about a female MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter,” disclosed the Oscar and Golden Globe winner. Halle herself will star in the film, written by Michelle Rosenfarb, as Jackie Justice, who walked out on her son years ago. When the son, Manny, reappears in her life, Jackie has to face her demons, battle a tough opponent in the MMA sport and fight to become the mom the 6-year-old boy deserves.

Halle explained why she chose the story and action genre for her directing debut.“It’s a genre that women so far have not really performed in. It was a story that just gripped and touched me. I understand that underdog story, having a last chance at something in order to survive, and it’s really at the core.

“While it’s a movie about MMA and fighting, it’s really a love story between a mother and a son. My children are the center of my life. So I related to the story on every single level. I’m also in this movie because I fundamentally understand this character. And I’m in the best shape of my life. All of this MMA world is where I’m at right now. The timing just feels right.”

Halle, who has a daughter, Nahla Ariela Aubry, 11 (with model Gabriel Aubry), and a son, Maceo Robert Martinez, 5 (with actor Olivier Martinez), elaborated on why it’s the perfect time to realize her filmmaking ambition.

“Now that the kids are in school most of the time, I realized, OK, I can get back to some of the things that I love and make me happy, that don’t involve my children,” said the stunner, who represented the United States in the 1986 Miss World pageant.

“So that’s why work is back on my plate again. I’ve got exciting things coming up—this movie (‘John Wick 3’), and I’m directing my next movie very soon. It’s got to be something that makes me say, OK, I’m going to leave the kids for a minute to go do something for me.”

“Bruised” shares some things in common with “John Wick 3,” which stars Keanu Reeves and Halle, and was directed by Chad Stahelski.“It’s ironic,” noted the Cleveland, Ohio native. “This script came to me just before I met Chad and got signed up to do ‘John Wick 3.’ Ironically, I have the same producer (Basil Iwanyk) of ‘John Wick’ and Chad is going to be my second unit director and stunt coordinator for ‘Bruised.’ So sometimes, you just know something is meant to be when the universe works it out that way.”

“Directing ‘Bruised’ wasn’t something I set out to do,” Halle admitted. “It sort of called me, actually. When I read the script, it wasn’t written for someone like me. It was written for a 22-year-old Irish Catholic white girl. But I saw how, if we changed the story a little bit, it could actually be more relevant today than that original story.

“It could be different and reach a greater audience if we changed it to someone like me who is a little older in life, who’s fighting for a last chance—not another chance. When you’re 22 and you screw up, you get another chance. When you’re where I’m at in life and you screw up, you’re done. A last chance is much more impactful than just another chance.

“So, it was about convincing them that I should play the role and it should be set in the Bronx, in a black ghetto versus where the story was originally set. Once I did that, I was charged with finding who is going to direct it. I met with tons of people. I felt like nobody saw the story that I saw in my head and that I had come up with to convince the producers to let me be the star of the movie.

“They finally came to me one day and said, ‘You should do it. You seem to understand the story more than anybody and seem to have the vision. Have you ever thought about that?’

“I said, ‘I’ve thought about it.’ I’ve never been that actor who went to work and just had my headphones on and said, ‘Call me when you’re ready.’ I was always out in all the departments, very curious, nosy and wanting to know what’s going on. I’ve been learning on my own.

“I thought well, OK, because they believe in me. And the more I talked, I realized that I was the director of this. It’s my story, and I know it inside and out.”

As to the actors she will direct and act with, Halle answered, “No casting finalized yet. We sent feelers out. There are people who we’re talking to who are interested and very excited.”

In the meantime, Halle, shared how she is getting ready to plunge into directing. “The process for me right now is because I am actually playing an MMA fighter, I’m in training and working with Chad and his 87eleven (Action Design). Training is a big part of what I’m doing right now.

“We’re in preproduction, so it’s about getting our script finalized, working with my production designer, figuring out where we’re going to shoot in the Bronx or in Jersey.

“We’re going to have the best situation to bring this world to life. I made my sizzle reel. I keep making mood board after mood board, putting all the images together in my mind so when we do get our crew together, I have tons of material to share with them. So they can understand the vision that I have in my mind.

“I’ve been talking with composers, friends of mine. I see the movie having a hardcore rap soundtrack. I have so many friends in the rap world. I’m probably going to call in on my chips on this one and get all my friends’ help.”

Asked which directors have been guiding or inspiring her, Halle replied, “Warren Beatty, a friend of mine, helps me whenever I have a question. When someone’s been around that long and has done as much as he has, Warren is always one of my first calls when I have a question about things.

“I worked with Susanne Bier. Being a woman, she has her own take on the industry, how she has survived it and navigated her way. So Susanne always has great advice. I loved working with her.

“Marc Forster is also a friend of mine who helps me. David O. Russell is someone I look up to as a filmmaker. I very much connect to and appreciate his style. I could keep going on, but that’s good (laughs).”

As for the bad directors who made her realize what to avoid in filmmaking, Halle said, “Here’s what I don’t want to do in my directorial debut. I got this somewhere, so it must be from watching bad directors whom I’ve worked with. People who aren’t able to be collaborative and listen to the people that they hire to do their respective jobs—I don’t think they make the best directors.

“Because in order to direct, what I’m learning so far is, the big part of the job is how you can handle people, how you can navigate situations, how you can be a team player, how you can set the tone.

“You learn that you get more out of your crew and actors if you give them space to be (what they’re good at). You actually hire people you respect, who you think are right for the jobs, then you let them do their jobs. You let them bring their talent and creativity to the process. You just have to manage that. That’s your job as a director.

“Directors who think they know it all in every department, and start telling actresses how to wear their hair, do themselves a big disservice. So I would say it’s about collaborating and trusting the artists you hire.”

Halle Berry Visits 'The Tonight Show' To Promote 'John Wick 3'

Halle Berry paid 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon' a visit last week, where she reacted to Drake wearing a jacket with her face on it and the hundreds of songs and sports plays that give her a shout-out.

The 52-year-old stunner also talked about the injuries she sustained on the set of 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' (in theaters May 17th), shares what it was like learning to train attack dogs for the movie and demos how her new badass skills helped train her house pets.

And it wouldn't be a 'Tonight Show' appearance without a fun game, so she and Fallon slipped into Velcro suits and attempted to stick as many balls to each other as possible before time ran out. Watch all the hilarious action below:

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Halle Berry Captivates At 'John Wick 3' Premiere In New York



On Thursday (May 9th), Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry were arm in arm as they attended the world premiere of their new film, 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum', in New York.


The Oscar winner captivated in a in a low-cut black jumpsuit with sheer halter panel that highlighted her curves and flashed her million dollar smile ahead of the screening.

In the third installment, the hitman is on the run with a $14 million contract on his head after killing Santino D'Antonio at the end of the previous film. He sets out to escape New York with the help of fellow assassin Sofia as an army of bounty-hunting killers close in.


(Photos Courtesy of Daily Mail)

Halle Berry Talks 'John Wick 3', Her Directorial Debut 'Bruised' & Early Challenges As A Black Woman On 'The Big Ticket'



Hot on the promotional trail for 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum', Oscar winner Halle Berry recalls her early days in Hollywood as a woman of color and why she’s starring in and directing 'Bruised', an upcoming movie about women’s MMA fighting slated to shoot this summer, with Variety's Marc Malkin for his podcast 'The Big Ticket'.


Halle Berry Talks 'John Wick 3', Breaking 3 Ribs During Brutal Training & Protecting Her Kids Privacy On 'TODAY'



This week, Halle Berry sat down with 'TODAY' to talk all about the training that went into preparing for her role in 'John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum', a serious injury she suffered in the process, her picks for the next James Bond and social media as a parent.