Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Nolan blasts Warner Bros. decision
Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company’s decision to debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in 2021. The “Tenet” filmmaker said Monday that it’s not a good business decision and criticized how the company handled it.
“It’s a unilateral decision that the studio took. They didn’t even tell the people involved,” Nolan said. “You have these great filmmakers who worked with passion and diligence for years on projects that are intended to be feature films with fantastic movie stars. And they’ve all now been told that they’re a loss-leader for a fledgling streaming service.”
The company announced last week that its 2021 film slate, including the new “Matrix” movie, “Dune” and “In the Heights,” would debut on its streaming service and in theaters simultaneously in the U.S., rattling Hollywood and resulting in doomsday predictions about the future of the movie theater.
“I’ve never seen everybody so upset about one particular decision,” Nolan said.
Nolan has worked with Warner Bros. on every film since 2002’s “Insomnia” in a profitable and critically acclaimed run that’s included “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and “Dunkirk.”
“It’s not right. And it’s not a good business decision,“Nolan said. “It’s all a bit of a mess.”
Porter rockin’ in new year at Times Square:
Last New Year’s Eve, Billy Porter was working in
New Orleans. This year he’ll still be working — but in New York City.
The “Pose” star will join Ryan Seacrest and Lucy Hale on ABC in Times Square on Dec. 31 for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020.” The broadcast is closed to the public due to the pandemic.
“2020 has been a trying year for the world and I’m thrilled to have Billy and Lucy join me in ushering in a new year with fresh beginnings,” said Seacrest in a statement. “We look forward to making sure it’s a night for everyone to remember.”
Porter made his debut on the program last year, taking over from Hale as co-host in New Orleans and performing several songs. As with last year, Ciara will once again oversee the Los Angeles festivities.
Irons joins ‘Gucci’ cast:
Jeremy Irons has been cast opposite Lady Gaga in MGM’s murder drama “Gucci,” with Ridley Scott directing.
Gaga will portray Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci. She had been abandoned after 12 years of marriage by Gucci in 1985 for a younger woman. Reggiani was tried and convicted of orchestrating her ex-husband’s assassination on the steps of his office in Italy in 1995. She gained the nickname the Black Widow during the trial and served 18 years before being released from prison in 2016.
The story about the Gucci murder is scripted by Roberto Bentivegna, based on Sara Gay Forden’s book “The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed.” Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Jack Huston and Reeve Carney are also attached to “Gucci.”
Driver is starring as Maurizio Gucci and Irons will play Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo Gucci. MGM has set a Nov. 24, 2021, release date.
Dec. 9 birthdays: Actor Judi Dench is 86. Actor Beau Bridges is 79. Singer Joan Armatrading is 70. Actor Michael Dorn is 68. Actor John Malkovich is 67. Singer Donny Osmond is 63. Comedian Mario Cantone is 61. Actor Felicity Huffman is 58. Singer-guitarist Jakob Dylan is 51. Businesswoman and TV personality Lori Greiner is 51. Rapper Canibus is 46. Singer Imogen Heap is 43. Actor Jesse Metcalfe is 42. Actor Simon Helberg is 40.