DC's female-led, R-rated pic is the first studio superhero offering of 2020.
Birds of Preyand the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn will easily fly to No. 1 in the U.S. this weekend with a domestic box office of $50 million or more.
Warner Bros. and DC's female-led feature is the year's first studio superhero pic, and sees Margot Robbie reprise her role as Harley Quinn following Suicide Squad. Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star as her superhero pals.
Directed by Cathy Yan, the R-rated offering is the weekend's only new wide release and will have to compete with Sunday's Academy Awards telecast, where Robbie herself is up for best supporting actress for her performance in Bombshell (Robbie also starred in Quentin Tarantino's award contender Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).
Birds of Prey follows hot on the heels of DC's global blockbuster Joker, which is up for numerous Oscars (star Joaquin Phoenix is a frontrunner for best actor). Joker is not part of the DC Extended Universe, where Birds of Prey will be the eighth such film in the DCEU.
The film, which cost cost $80 million to $90 million to produce after tax incentives and rebates, also flies into numerous markets overseas, where it is hoping to take off with $60 million-plus. The rest of the cast is led by Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong and Ewan McGregor. Sue Kroll, Margot Robbie and Bryan Unkeless also star.
February has transformed into a launching pad for superhero movies following the success of 20th Century Fox's R-rated Deadpool and Black Panther. Both of those titles opened over Presidents Day weekend; Birds of Prey is leaving the nest a week earlier.
Deadpool shattered records when posting a three-day debut of $132.4 million over the mid-February holiday frame in 2016 and $152.2 million for the four-day holiday. Two years later, Marvel and Disney's Black Panther blew past that with $202 million for the three days and $242.2 million for the four.
Suicide Squad opened in summer 2016 to $133.2 million, but comparisons to Birds of Prey are tough, since the former went out in August.
Birds of Prey should benefit from strong reviews (presently, its Rotten Tomatoes score rests at 90 percent), and hopes to maintain momentum over Presidents Day weekend.
TV icon Susan Lucci opened up about the death of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas on Wednesday.
The “All My Children” actress joined the rest of the country in mourning the late actor, who died at 103, according to a statement shared by his son, Michael Douglas. Speaking with "Entertainment Tonight" at the American Heart Association’s Annual Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York City Wednesday, Lucci opened up about Douglas’ legacy.
“He is Hollywood royalty and well, deservedly so," Lucci told the outlet. "He was really an inspiration for many people in the industry and a good man. I wish his family all the best."
She also touched upon the late actor’s relationship with his family, recalling a time she saw him interacting with his famous daughter-in-law.
Susan Lucci opened up about the legacy of late actor Kirk Douglas.
(Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
“I remember seeing Catherine Zeta-Jones, his daughter-in-law at an event with him and she was so lovely with him,” she added.
The television actress and author was hardly the first celebrity to eulogize Douglas to the public. Stars like William Shatner, Danny DeVito, Carl Weathers, Jason Alexander and more took to Twitter almost immediately after news broke of his death to share their condolences with the family and to honor his legacy.
Douglas is known as one of the most famous American leading men of the mid-20th century, remembered for his dimpled chin, chiseled features, and virile Hollywood roles.
A World War II veteran who survived a helicopter crash, a stroke, and two knee replacements, Douglas literally rose from rags to riches -- his father was a ragman -- and starred in over 80 films, including, perhaps most famously, "Spartacus." He remained in the public spotlight well into his senior years, if not as an actor then as a producer, author, and blogger.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anne Buydens, their son Peter Douglas, two sons from his first marriage -- Michael and Joel Douglas -- and seven grandchildren.
The royal family may be going through one of its biggest upheavals in decades, yet Kate Middleton and Prince William are not letting the drama get to them. In a rare occurrence, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were spotted packing on the PDA at an engagement in South Wales. The appearance comes weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their exit, a move that shocked the monarchy to its core.
Prince William and Kate Middleton | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
The Cambridges put on a good show
The royals experienced a very rough start to 2020. At the
beginning of January, Harry and Meghan formally announced their resignation as
senior members of the royal family.
Moving forward, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning on becoming financially independent and are moving to Canada for a portion of the year. The announcement reportedly came as a surprise to the rest of the royals, who scrambled to get the situation under control.
Despite all the drama, Prince William and Kate Middleton
have kept their composure in public. In fact, the two have shown little signs
of stress and have even started to pack on the PDA like never before.
There is little doubt that Kate and William are dealing with
some major issues behind the scenes, but they are definitely putting on a
united front for the public.
Inside Prince William and Kate Middleton’s joint events
Last month, William and Kate appeared together for an event
in Bradford. The Cambridges met with business owners in the region and
potential job candidates.
Kate Middleton later attended a workshop as part of her Early Year initiative, where she learned more about projects that benefit families who have children that are under the age of five.
The Duchess of Cambridge later shared photos from the event
on social media, which gained a lot of praise from fans around the world.
The two also attended the BAFTAs in London, where Prince William
made jokes about how many actors have won awards playing members of the royal
family. While it was great to see William and Kate perform their royal duties
together, they really laid on the PDA during their most recent event.
Kate Middleton and Prince William pack on the PDA
According to Express,
Kate poured on the PDA during a recent event in South Wales. The Duchess of
Cambridge was spotted placing her hand on William’s shoulder during the
engagement in what proved to be a rare show of affection for the couple.
The PDA happened when the two appeared at a Lifeboat Station
at The Mumbles. The pair later boarded one of the lifeboats and spoke with
crewmembers for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Kate Middleton donned a red gown and a blue coat for the
event and completed her look with a matching scarf and clutch.
Although the royals are experiencing a lot of drama at the
moment, Prince William and Kate have clearly kept their cool in public. It is
also interesting that they are showing more affection than ever before, as most
members of the royal family tend to be much more reserved in public settings.
Brad Pitt takes a swipe at the royals
While Prince William and Kate Middleton continue to express
their love for each other, their appearance at the BAFTAs was not without some
controversy.
Brad Pitt was nominated for an award at the ceremony but was unable to attend due to previous commitments. In his stead, Margot Robbie accepted the award and gave a speech that Pitt wrote for the occasion.
In his acceptance speech, Pitt thanked everyone for their
hard work and made a joke about the royals that made headlines the following
morning. The jab was leveled at Harry and Meghan, who are currently living in
Canada.
“He’s gonna name this [BAFTA] Harry, because he’s really
excited about bringing it back to the States with him. His words, not mine, thanks!”
Robbie shared.
William and Kate have not commented on Pitt’s dig. The
cameras did, however, catch the couple’s reaction to Robbie’s speech. The two
appeared to take the joke in stride and laughed alongside everyone else.
In light of Harry and Meghan’s exit, Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to take on more royal duties in the coming years, which should give them plenty of opportunities to show a little more PDA.
The queen’s statement shared, in part: “I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.”
The statement continued: “I want to thank them for all their
dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am
particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is
my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a
happy and peaceful new life.”
How have Prince William and Kate felt about Megxit?
A palace source shared there was “genuine worry,” telling The Mirror: “Harry and Meghan deciding to up sticks and leave without any thought about how it could affect them is pretty selfish.”
“If the Sussexes are only here half the year then it will
fall to William and Kate to pick up the slack with more engagements, more
pressure, and that has not even been considered,” the source added.
The Cambridges are also reportedly “very upset” over the Sussexes’ move, with a source telling The Sun: “Understandably William and Kate have been very upset by what has happened. Not only has William lost his brother as a working member of the family but he and Kate now have a much greater burden.”
They’ve been leaning on Kate’s mom
It’s believed that, in this trying time for the Cambridges, they’ve been leaning on Kate’s mother, Carole, for some support.
Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous Digital: “Kate turns to [Carole] for advice and comfort all the time,” noting that the Cambridges have spent more time with Carole following Prince Harry and Meghan’s exit from their royal duties.
“There will be stressful times ahead and Kate and William will need the support of Carole and Michael more than ever,” Dampier added.
Common wants people to get off Jay-Z's back for revealing he was NOT protesting at the Super Bowl ... and instead, focus on the genuine good he's doing to help his community.
We got Common Wednesday at LAX and asked why he thought some critics were ripping Hova's explanation for sitting Sunday -- with Beyonce and Blue Ivy -- during the National Anthem. He says it was absolutely NOT a protest ... silent or otherwise.
Common tells us Jay's stuck between a rock and a hard place cause it's clear he's never gonna please the masses. But, he does offer a piece of advice to those who wanna shade Jay -- the man's work speaks for itself.
He says it should be clear the rapper/mogul has good intentions based on his efforts. For instance, Jay's Roc Nation produced one of the most diverse groups of artists to perform at the Super Bowl. He's also part of a passionate effort demanding prison reform due to deadly violence in Mississippi.
Those are just the things known to the public -- Common says there's a lot more Jay does outside the spotlight ... and that's why he's willing to take him at his word that he wasn't taking a stand.
"It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103," Michael wrote on the platform. "To the world he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to."
"But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad, to Catherine, a wonderful father-in-law, to his grandchildren and great grandchild their loving grandfather, and to his wife Anne, a wonderful husband," he continued. "Kirk's life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet."
The post concluded: "Let me end with the words I told him on his last birthday and which will always remain true. Dad- I love you so much and I am so proud to be your son."
The actor starred in such films as 'Champion,' 'The Bad and the Beautiful,' 'Lust for Life,' 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' and 'Spartacus,' to name just a few.
Kirk Douglas, the son of a ragman who channeled a deep, personal anger through a chiseled jaw and steely blue eyes to forge one of the most indelible and indefatigable careers in Hollywood history, died Wednesday. He was 103.
“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103,” son Michael Douglas wrote on his Instagram account. “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the Golden Age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.”
Douglas walked away from a helicopter crash in 1991 and suffered a severe stroke in 1996 but, ever the battler, he refused to give in. With a passionate will to survive, he was the last man standing of all the great stars of another time.
Nominated three times for best actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — for Champion (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Lust for Life (1956) — Douglas was the recipient of an honorary Oscar in 1996. Arguably the top male star of the post-World War II era, he acted in more than 80 movies before retiring from films in 2004.
The father of two-time Oscar-winning actor-director-producer Michael Douglas, the Amsterdam, New York native first achieved stardom as a ruthless and cynical boxer in Champion. In The Bad and the Beautiful, he played a hated, ambitious movie producer for director Vincente Minnelli, then was particularly memorable, again for Minnelli, as the tormented genius Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life, for which he won the New York Film Critics Award for best actor.
Perhaps most importantly, Douglas rebelled against the McCarthy Era establishment by producing and starring as a slave in Spartacus (1960), written by Dalton Trumbo, making the actor a hero to those blacklisted in Hollywood. The film became Universal’s biggest moneymaker, an achievement that stood for a decade.
Douglas’ many honors include the highest award that can be given to a U.S. civilian, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The broad-chested Douglas often bucked the establishment with his opinions, and he had the courage to back them up. “I’ve always been a maverick," he once said. "When I was new in pictures, I defied my agents to make Champion rather than appear in an important MGM movie they had planned for me [The Great Sinner, which wound up starring Gregory Peck]. Nobody had ever heard of the people connected to Champion, but I liked the Ring Lardner story, and that’s the movie I wanted to do. Everyone thought I was crazy, of course, but I think I made the right decision.”
Never one to toe the line with synthetic, movie star-type parts, Douglas played classic heels in a number of films. In 1951, he showed a keen flair for portraying strong-minded characters like the sleazy newspaper reporter in Billy Wilder’s The Big Carnival (aka Ace in the Hole) and the sadistic cop in William Wyler’s Detective Story. He played more sympathetic types in Out of the Past (1947), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) as Doc Holliday, Paths of Glory (1957) and The List of Adrian Messenger (1963).
Douglas was very particular in his role selection. “If I like a picture, I do it. I don’t stop to wonder if it’ll be successful or not,” he said in a 1982 interview. “I loved Lonely Are the Brave and Paths of Glory, but neither of them made a lot of money. No matter; I’m proud of them.”
His independent nature led him in 1955 to form his own independent film company, Bryna Productions. In the post-World War II era, Douglas was the first actor to take control of his career in this manner. Captaining his own ship, he soon launched a number of heady projects. Most auspiciously, he took a risk on a young Stanley Kubrick with Paths of Glory and Spartacus, films that feature two of Douglas’ finest performances. (He hired Kubrick for the latter after firing Anthony Mann a week into production.)
Indeed, Douglas backed his artistic and political opinions with action: His public announcement that blacklisted writer Trumbo would script Spartacus was a key moment in Hollywood’s re-acceptance of suspected communist figures.
During a Tonight Show appearance in August 1988 to promote his first book, The Ragman’s Son, Douglas told Johnny Carson that he often drew from personal experience for his work on film.
“What I found out when I wrote this book is I have a lot of anger in me,” he said. “I’m angry about things that happened many, many years ago. I think that anger has been a lot of the fuel that has helped me in whatever I’ve done.”
Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in the industrial town of Amsterdam. His parents, Jewish immigrants from Russia, raised seven children, and as soon as he was old enough, Douglas went to work to help support the family.
He put himself through St. Lawrence University by working as a janitor. After receiving his bachelor of arts degree, he moved to Manhattan where, as a result of a single reading for the head of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, received a special scholarship.
Soon after graduating from the academy in 1941, Douglas made his Broadway debut in Spring Again, starring Grace George and C. Aubrey Smith, playing a singing messenger boy. In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy, attending the Midshipman School at Notre Dame, and was commissioned an ensign. He served on anti-submarine patrol in the Pacific as a communications officer until 1944, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant.
Returning to civilian life and Broadway, he replaced Richard Widmark as the juvenile lead in Kiss and Tell and appeared in Trio and Star in the Window. It was his widely praised performance in The Wind Is Ninety that brought him to Hollywood’s attention. The year was 1946, and, at the suggestion of Lauren Bacall, producer Hal Wallis invited him to come to California for a screen test. Wallis was so impressed with Douglas that he cast him in the lead opposite Barbara Stanwyck in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946).
Douglas would work with some of the century’s top directors, starring in such memorable films as Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s A Letter to Three Wives (1949) and There Was a Crooked Man (1970), John Sturges’ Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and John Huston’s The List of Adrian Messenger.
For Bryna, Douglas also starred in The Indian Fighter (1955), The Vikings (1958), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Seven Days in May (1964) and The Brotherhood (1968).
One regret the actor-producer had was with one of his longtime pet projects, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Douglas starred as Randle Patrick McMurphy in the 1963 Broadway adaption of the Ken Kesey book and had optioned the project, but he never managed to make it into a film.
His son Michael and Saul Zaentz eventually produced the movie, and released in 1975, it collected five Academy Awards, including one for best picture. He received half of Michael's share of the profits, and his son often joked that it was the most money dad had ever made as a producer.
"He's completely inspirational," Michael said during an interview at the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival. "When you finally reach an age when you're not feeling like you have to compete with your father and you can look at him [as an equal] … of course, that took me until I was 60."
A man of restless energy and various interests, Douglas supported many causes and worked in public service. During the John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson eras, he toured widely for the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. State Department as a goodwill ambassador, going on missions to South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.
In 1966, on behalf of the State Department, Douglas visited six Iron Curtain countries: Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. He often regaled acquaintances about a visit to Yugoslavia, where he managed a private visit with President Tito, much to the chagrin of the British ambassador who had been waiting for weeks for such an opportunity.
When the baffled British ambassador asked Douglas how he’d managed it, he replied, “Mr. Ambassador, how many movies have you made?” Realizing that a Hollywood star was in a unique position to enter domains beyond even established professionals, he sagely used his celebrity status to meet important people from all walks of life.
Successive presidents recognized Douglas’ good works: A citation of his efforts was inserted into the Congressional Record. In 1981, he received the Medal of Freedom for his “significant cultural endeavors as an actor and a goodwill ambassador.”
Further honors came to him in 1968 when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, during its Golden Globe ceremony, presented him with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. (In January 2017, he made a surprising visit to the Globes, serving as a presenter with his daughter-in-law, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.)
His humanitarian efforts earned him the American Award, presented by the Thomas A. Dooley Foundation. He was perhaps most proud of the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts conferred on him by his alma mater, St. Lawrence.
In March 2009, Douglas starred in an autobiographical one-man show, Before I Forget, at the Center Theater Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.
While making a film in France, Douglas met Parisienne Anne Buyden. They were married in 1954 and had two sons, Peter and Eric. She's 100 and survives him.
In May 2017, the actor's 11th book, Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood, was published. (His first was his 1988 autobiography, The Ragman's Son.)
On his 99th birthday, Douglas and his wife donated $15 million toward a new $35 million care center at the Motion Picture Television Fund home in Woodland Hills.
Sons Michael and Joel (a producer) were from Douglas’ 1943-51 marriage to actress Diana Dill, who died in 2015 at age 92.
