Josh Brolin, in his memoir "From Under the Truck," reflects on his tumultuous past and sobriety journey, while expressing strong support for Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two." Brolin, who plays Gurney Halleck in the film, believes Villeneuve deserves an Oscar nomination for the sequel, which he considers superior to the first installment. Brolin's memoir candidly explores his struggles with addiction and his transformation into a more disciplined actor.
Babs Olusanmokun discusses his role in "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare," highlighting the film's timely message and his experience working with Guy Ritchie. He also reflects on his impactful role as Jamis in "Dune: Part One" and "Part Two," emphasizing the respect he received from director Denis Villeneuve. Additionally, Olusanmokun shares insights on his character and experiences in other projects, including "Too Old to Die Young."
"Dune: Part Two" is on track to surpass $500 million globally, making it one of the few films to achieve this milestone in the post-pandemic era. The sequel has outperformed its predecessor at the box office, with strong showings in North America and internationally, particularly in China, the U.K., Germany, France, and Australia. The film's success has been fueled by positive reviews and interest in premium formats, helping it recoup its substantial production and marketing costs.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" continues to dominate the domestic box office with $30 million in its second weekend, while "Dune: Part Two" follows closely with $29 million in its third weekend. "Arthur the King" debuts with a soft $7.5 million, and "The American Society of Magical Negroes" struggles with just $1.25 million. "Imaginary" and "Cabrini" round out the top five. The domestic box office remains behind 2023, but upcoming releases like "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" are expected to provide a boost.
Kung Fu Panda 4 is expected to top the box office for the second week, outperforming Dune 2 and new release Arthur The King. The animated film is projected to bring in $31.5 million domestically, surpassing $100 million in total earnings. Despite Dune 2's higher overall earnings, it is expected to trail behind Kung Fu Panda 4 for the weekend.
"Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part Two continue to dominate the box office, with Kung Fu Panda 4 expected to surpass $100 million domestically and Dune 2 crossing the $200 million mark. Meanwhile, new releases like 'Arthur the King' and 'The American Society of Magical Negroes' are struggling to meet expectations, with the former opening below projections and the latter facing a disappointing debut. Other films like 'Imaginary' and 'Cabrini' are also making their mark on the box office charts, while rereleases of award contenders like 'Oppenheimer' are aiming to capitalize on recent Oscars success."
'Dune: Part Two' has been released in theaters, continuing the movie trilogy based on Frank Herbert's novel. To catch up, viewers can stream the first film, 'Dune,' on HBO Max, which is available for $10-$20 per month. Additionally, a VPN can be used to access the film from anywhere, providing encryption and privacy benefits while streaming. ExpressVPN is recommended for this purpose, with instructions provided for installation and usage.
Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve confirmed that the film's ending reflects a love story between Paul and Chani, with Chani feeling betrayed as Paul embraces his role as a messiah figure. Villeneuve aimed to avoid a 'white savior' narrative and added complexity to the story by portraying Paul's choices as potentially oppressive. Fans' suspicions about the ending were substantiated, as Villeneuve's adaptation intentionally provides commentary on exploitation and colonialism while rejecting the 'white savior' narrative.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" leads the domestic box office with a strong $58.3 million opening weekend, marking the biggest debut of the franchise since the original film. "Dune: Part Two" remains strong with a $46 million weekend, surpassing the domestic total of the first film. The box office is showing signs of revival with the success of these films, while new releases like "Imaginary" and "Cabrini" also make their debut.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" kicks off with a strong $19.4 million opening day, projected to reach $55 million for the weekend, benefiting from a lack of family movie competition. "Dune: Part Two" holds strong in second place, surpassing its predecessor's domestic gross. "Imaginary" opens to $3.6 million, while "Cabrini" and "Bob Marley: One Love" are projected to earn $7-8 million and $4.2 million respectively, rounding out the top five at the box office.
Christopher Walken discusses his role as the Emperor in Dune 2, his approach to playing the character, and his thoughts on retirement and President Biden's age. He also talks about his experience filming Dune 2, retirement, and the possibility of hosting Saturday Night Live again. Walken expresses interest in playing a "normal guy" in his career and reflects on some of his memorable moments in film.
"Dune: Part Two" surpasses expectations with a $82.5 million North American and $182.5 million global opening weekend, reviving the box office and outperforming its predecessor. The film's success is attributed to strategic release timing, Imax screenings, star power of Timothée Chalamet and director Denis Villeneuve, and potential for franchise expansion. While the industry celebrates this boost, ongoing content shortages and shifting audience preferences pose challenges for sustaining this momentum.
Denis Villeneuve and the cast and crew of "Dune: Part Two" spent almost a month shooting in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Oasis, with the location providing a substantial portion of the landscape for the desert planet Arrakis. The director praised the services provided by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and UAE-based production services company Epic Films, emphasizing the importance of bringing nature to the screen to create a tactile and believable experience for the audience. The shoot presented logistical challenges, with the production utilizing a significant number of locally-based crew and contractors, and A-list talent such as Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya staying close to the filming location at the Qasr Al Sarab Hotel desert resort.
"Dune: Part Two" dominates the box office with an $81.5 million domestic debut, providing a much-needed boost for struggling movie theaters. The sequel, directed by Denis Villeneuve, has garnered positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth, surpassing expectations and demonstrating appeal beyond sci-fi enthusiasts. With significant earnings from premium large formats and Imax, the film is poised to justify its substantial production and marketing costs. Meanwhile, other movies in theaters, such as "Bob Marley: One Love" and "Madame Web," are vying for attention amidst "Dune 2's" box office dominance.
"Dune: Part Two" earns $12 million in domestic previews, surpassing its predecessor, and is expected to be the first major blockbuster of 2024. The film, featuring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, is also debuting in 71 overseas markets and is predicted to potentially clear $90 million or $100 million domestically. The long-term success of the sequel will determine its potential as a new franchise for Legendary, with plans for a follow-up film and a spinoff series already in the works.
