Gadot, Jenkins teaming up again
Gal Gadot will trade her lasso of truth for a golden crown, playing the legendary queen of Egypt in “Cleopatra,” a historical drama that will reunite the actress with her“Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins.
Paramount Pictureswon the rights to the project, reportedly beating out other suitors, such asApple, Universal, Warner Bros. andNetflix. Gadot will get a chance to put her mark on a role previously played by the likes of ClaudetteColbert and Elizabeth Taylor, portraying awoman who romanced Julius Caesar and Marc Antony and served as the last ruler of Egypt’s Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Gadot and Jenkins are also collaborating on “WonderWoman 1984,” the superhero sequel that is expected to debut in December.
White pays tribute:
Stepping in for the canceledMorganWallen on “SaturdayNight Live,” Jack White might have proved the most popularly satisfying musical pinch hitter since Aretha Franklin stepped in for Pavarotti on the Grammys 22 years ago. His power-trio double-header set was quickly applauded on social media as one of the most electrifying rock ’n’ roll performances on the showin decades, and drew extra goodwill thanks to White using the moment to pay homage to another guitar hero, EddieVan Halen.
The showannounced Whitewould fill in for Wallen (whowas told not to report forwork after flagrantly breaking COVID-19 protocols) just a couple of days afterVan Halen’s death. White of
fered a salute first by performing on a customized EddieVanHalen guitar that he’s used in the past, then by offering a brief bit of EVH-style finger tapping at the beginning of his solo in “Lazaretto,” before moving back into his own trademarkwailing.
Weekend box office:
The Robert DeNiro comedy “TheWar With Grandpa,” whichwas originally supposed to hit theaters in 2018, unseated Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” fromthe box office top slot this weekend.
In its sixthweek of release, “Tenet” grossed $2.1 million domestically, bringing its haul to $48.3 million. TheWarner Bros. sci-fi thriller took in an estimated $9.8 million globally this weekend in 62 markets, pushing itsworldwide total to $323.3 million.
Disney’s rerelease of “Hocus Pocus” continued
to be a rareCOVID-era hit, earning $1.2 million. The comedy about a coven of witches stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and KathyNajimy. Itwas a box office disappointment when it debuted in 1993, but it became a cult classic on cable and other home entertainment platforms.
“TheWarWith Grandpa” finally debuted in a theatrical landscape in crisis fromthe coronavirus. The film grossed $3.6 million from2,205 locations, while receiving a brushoff fromcritics.
In pandemic times when major markets likeNew York City and Los Angeles are closed, that may rank as a decent opening.
Oct. 12 birthdays:
Singer SamMoore is 85. “FoxNews Sunday” host ChrisWallace is 73. Musician Jane Siberry is 65. ActorHugh Jackman is 52. FiddlerMartieMaguire is
51. Singer Jordan Pundik is
41. Actor Tyler Blackburn is 34. Actor JoshHutcherson is 28.