Monthly Archives: March 2020

Onward Tops the Lowest Box Office in Twenty Years

Unsurprisingly, not many folks ventured out to the multiplex this weekend amid coronavirus concerns, so the box office took a huge hit, falling to its lowest reporting in two decades (per Variety). With only a $55.3 million take between Friday and Sunday, Onward topped the charts as the only film to earn over $10 million. Paramount's A Quiet Place II was originally scheduled to release this weekend, but it, like many other films, has been pushed back. New films that weren't delayed, which did open this weekend, included The Hunt, Bloodshot, and faith-based flick I Still Believe. They all placed in the Top 5, with I Still Believe and Bloodshot earning close to what Onward made. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-movies-on-disney&captions=true"] Most theater chains, including AMC and Regal, have taken measures to reduce crowding by capping their auditorium ticket sales at 50%, therefore limiting the amount of people who can attend a single showing. The last time box office hauls were this low was back in September of 2000 when the weekend take was only $54.5 million.

North American Box Office Estimates

Our review of Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and Guy Pearce, notes that it "overcomes a slew of cliches and an awful opening 20 minutes to prove a mostly fun Vin Diesel flick." Our review of The Hunt, from Watchmen's Damon Lindelof, hails the satire for holding "a darkly comic mirror up to our political divisions in a bloody fun way." Here are the Top 10 North American box office estimates for the weekend (via Box Office Mojo)

  • 1. Onward $10,532,000
  • 2. I Still Believe $9,500,000
  • 3. Bloodshot $9,300,000
  • 4. The Invisible Man $6,000,000
  • 5. The Hunt $5,320,000
  • 6. Sonic the Hedgehog $2,575,000
  • 7. The Way Back $2,415,000
  • 8. The Call of the Wild $2,241,000
  • 9. Emma $1,370,000
  • 10 Bad Boys for Life $1,100,000
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/14/bloodshot-trailer-2"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Onward Tops the Lowest Box Office in Twenty Years

Unsurprisingly, not many folks ventured out to the multiplex this weekend amid coronavirus concerns, so the box office took a huge hit, falling to its lowest reporting in two decades (per Variety). With only a $55.3 million take between Friday and Sunday, Onward topped the charts as the only film to earn over $10 million. Paramount's A Quiet Place II was originally scheduled to release this weekend, but it, like many other films, has been pushed back. New films that weren't delayed, which did open this weekend, included The Hunt, Bloodshot, and faith-based flick I Still Believe. They all placed in the Top 5, with I Still Believe and Bloodshot earning close to what Onward made. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-movies-on-disney&captions=true"] Most theater chains, including AMC and Regal, have taken measures to reduce crowding by capping their auditorium ticket sales at 50%, therefore limiting the amount of people who can attend a single showing. The last time box office hauls were this low was back in September of 2000 when the weekend take was only $54.5 million.

North American Box Office Estimates

Our review of Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and Guy Pearce, notes that it "overcomes a slew of cliches and an awful opening 20 minutes to prove a mostly fun Vin Diesel flick." Our review of The Hunt, from Watchmen's Damon Lindelof, hails the satire for holding "a darkly comic mirror up to our political divisions in a bloody fun way." Here are the Top 10 North American box office estimates for the weekend (via Box Office Mojo)

  • 1. Onward $10,532,000
  • 2. I Still Believe $9,500,000
  • 3. Bloodshot $9,300,000
  • 4. The Invisible Man $6,000,000
  • 5. The Hunt $5,320,000
  • 6. Sonic the Hedgehog $2,575,000
  • 7. The Way Back $2,415,000
  • 8. The Call of the Wild $2,241,000
  • 9. Emma $1,370,000
  • 10 Bad Boys for Life $1,100,000
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/14/bloodshot-trailer-2"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Original Mulan Director Reveals His Role on Space Jam 2

Not even COVID-19 can stop the animated sports stars of Space Jam 2, apparently, and now it appears they’ve got an animation mainstay among their ranks. Tony Bancroft, known for directing the 1998 Mulan film among other major animation credits, has tweeted out that he’s working on Space Jam 2 as an animator.

“I just started working on the lot at Warner Bros studio in January,” Bancroft tweeted Saturday. “Now working from home. Just one more Looney chapter in the making of Space Jam 2. Have Cintiq will travel.” Bancroft’s other credits include being an animator on the original Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Emperor’s New Groove. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"]

Space Jam 2 is scheduled to release on July 16, 2021, and will star NBA legend Lebron James, despite original Space Jam star Michael Jordan’s desire to see someone else take over the role.

Space Jam 2 is also being produced by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, and will actually be directed by Justin Lin, who directed four of the Fast and the Furious films.

Warner Bros. hasn’t made any statement on whether or not Space Jam 2’s production is delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the film still a year off, it remains to be seen if it’s effected in any way. That said, Bancroft does say he’s working from home, like many others across the globe.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/03/27/star-trek-discoverys-sonequa-martin-green-joins-space-jam"]

Hopefully, Space Jam 2 will be able to avoid any serious delays. Meanwhile, here’s every movie and show that’s been delayed because of COVID-19.

What do you think of the Mulan director being involved in a key role on Space Jam 2? Let us know in the comments below.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/Monstar for IGN.

Original Mulan Director Reveals His Role on Space Jam 2

Not even COVID-19 can stop the animated sports stars of Space Jam 2, apparently, and now it appears they’ve got an animation mainstay among their ranks. Tony Bancroft, known for directing the 1998 Mulan film among other major animation credits, has tweeted out that he’s working on Space Jam 2 as an animator.

“I just started working on the lot at Warner Bros studio in January,” Bancroft tweeted Saturday. “Now working from home. Just one more Looney chapter in the making of Space Jam 2. Have Cintiq will travel.” Bancroft’s other credits include being an animator on the original Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Emperor’s New Groove. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"]

Space Jam 2 is scheduled to release on July 16, 2021, and will star NBA legend Lebron James, despite original Space Jam star Michael Jordan’s desire to see someone else take over the role.

Space Jam 2 is also being produced by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, and will actually be directed by Justin Lin, who directed four of the Fast and the Furious films.

Warner Bros. hasn’t made any statement on whether or not Space Jam 2’s production is delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the film still a year off, it remains to be seen if it’s effected in any way. That said, Bancroft does say he’s working from home, like many others across the globe.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/03/27/star-trek-discoverys-sonequa-martin-green-joins-space-jam"]

Hopefully, Space Jam 2 will be able to avoid any serious delays. Meanwhile, here’s every movie and show that’s been delayed because of COVID-19.

What do you think of the Mulan director being involved in a key role on Space Jam 2? Let us know in the comments below.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/Monstar for IGN.

In Lieu of WrestleMania, Bray Wyatt Challenges John Cena to a Bar Fight

Though there's still no word yet on WrestleMania 36 being cancelled over coronavirus concerns, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt has a pretty good idea of what to do with his scheduled match against John Cena should the mega-event get pushed back (which it absolutely has to be, it's just a matter of days before Tampa pulls the plug). Taking to Twitter (for a message that has since been deleted), Bray The Fiend challenged Cena to a "Bar Fight Deathmatch" in a Hooters. Check it out... 690 Bray was totally kidding, except that he also wrote "Not Kidding." And given how last week's SmackDown on Fox emanated from the WWE Performance Center, with no fans in attendance, this may be the way WrestleMania goes unless the decision is made to push the event into the summer. As it stands right now, Monday's RAW, which boasts the return of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, will also take place in a the emptied-out Performance Center. Let's pretend this is a viable option. Would y'all like to see it happen? Let us know below! In other COVID-19 production news, Disney has announced that it will temporarily shut down production on all of its upcoming Disney+ Marvel shows and films. Outside of its media entertainment services, Disney has also shut down both Disney World and Disneyland in an attempt to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is only the fourth time in history that Disneyland has been closed. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Here's a full list of every TV show and movie production that's come to a halt due to the pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

In Lieu of WrestleMania, Bray Wyatt Challenges John Cena to a Bar Fight

Though there's still no word yet on WrestleMania 36 being cancelled over coronavirus concerns, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt has a pretty good idea of what to do with his scheduled match against John Cena should the mega-event get pushed back (which it absolutely has to be, it's just a matter of days before Tampa pulls the plug). Taking to Twitter (for a message that has since been deleted), Bray The Fiend challenged Cena to a "Bar Fight Deathmatch" in a Hooters. Check it out... 690 Bray was totally kidding, except that he also wrote "Not Kidding." And given how last week's SmackDown on Fox emanated from the WWE Performance Center, with no fans in attendance, this may be the way WrestleMania goes unless the decision is made to push the event into the summer. As it stands right now, Monday's RAW, which boasts the return of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, will also take place in a the emptied-out Performance Center. Let's pretend this is a viable option. Would y'all like to see it happen? Let us know below! In other COVID-19 production news, Disney has announced that it will temporarily shut down production on all of its upcoming Disney+ Marvel shows and films. Outside of its media entertainment services, Disney has also shut down both Disney World and Disneyland in an attempt to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is only the fourth time in history that Disneyland has been closed. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Here's a full list of every TV show and movie production that's come to a halt due to the pandemic. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

You Can Watch Frozen 2 Now on Disney+

Update: It appears Frozen 2 is available a day early as it's now on Disney+, on Saturday, March 14. Original Story: The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will be making Frozen 2 available on Disney+ three months early for "families during these challenging times." Frozen 2 will be officially become available in the U.S. beginning Sunday, March 15, and will be available in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand on Tuesday, March 17. This welcome surprise arrives amidst the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic that is impacting the world, an event that has even forced Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure to close through the end of the month. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/21/frozen-2-review"] “‘Frozen 2’ has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant during this time, and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device,” said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. Frozen 2 was made available digitally on February 11 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on February 25. It was set to be released on Disney+ on June 26 before Disney made this move. Frozen 2, which is the highest-grossing animated film ever at $1.4 billion, was also the sixth Disney film to cross the billion dollar milestone. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] In our review of Frozen 2, we said it "is nothing if not ambitious, and like any big undertaking, that ambition comes with flaws. The beautiful world of Arendelle and beyond is a total joy to explore but a confusing subplot that can't quite commit to its radical intentions takes away from the power and the message of the film." This is much needed good news amidst all the other delays and cancellations that are affecting the film and TV industry. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

All of Disney Plus’ Marvel Shows Pause Production Due to COVID-19

Disney has announced that it will temporarily shut down production on all of its upcoming Disney+ Marvel shows and films amid COVID-19 concerns, according to Variety. This news comes just a few days after Disney halted production on its upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The decision will affect all Marvel shows currently in production, including Loki and WandaVision. Shows that are currently in pre-production will continue to work remotely until further notice. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] It remains unclear how long the pause on production will last. At the time of writing,  Disney has made no announcement regarding delayed release dates for Loki and WandaVision. Additionally, earlier this week Disney announced that it would delay its live-action Mulan film indefinitely, which was slated for a March 27 release date. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/13/how-coronavirus-delays-are-impacting-2020-movies-ign-now"] Disney is hardly the first entertainment outlet to be affected by the coronavirus, as films like Fast and Furious 9, No Time to Die, and The New Mutants have all experienced delays. In fact, we've got a full list of all movies and TV shows affected by COVID-19. Despite all of the delays, Disney has announced that Frozen 2 will come to Disney+ three months early so those trapped at home can enjoy it. Additionally, The Rise of Skywalker has been made available for digital purchase a few days early. French citizens might also find it difficult to go to the movies, since their government just ordered the closing of all theaters. Outside of its media entertainment services, Disney has also shut down both Disney World and Disneyland in an attempt to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is only the fourth time in history that Disneyland has been closed. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.

All of Disney Plus’ Marvel Shows Pause Production Due to COVID-19

Disney has announced that it will temporarily shut down production on all of its upcoming Disney+ Marvel shows and films amid COVID-19 concerns, according to Variety. This news comes just a few days after Disney halted production on its upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The decision will affect all Marvel shows currently in production, including Loki and WandaVision. Shows that are currently in pre-production will continue to work remotely until further notice. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] It remains unclear how long the pause on production will last. At the time of writing,  Disney has made no announcement regarding delayed release dates for Loki and WandaVision. Additionally, earlier this week Disney announced that it would delay its live-action Mulan film indefinitely, which was slated for a March 27 release date. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/13/how-coronavirus-delays-are-impacting-2020-movies-ign-now"] Disney is hardly the first entertainment outlet to be affected by the coronavirus, as films like Fast and Furious 9, No Time to Die, and The New Mutants have all experienced delays. In fact, we've got a full list of all movies and TV shows affected by COVID-19. Despite all of the delays, Disney has announced that Frozen 2 will come to Disney+ three months early so those trapped at home can enjoy it. Additionally, The Rise of Skywalker has been made available for digital purchase a few days early. French citizens might also find it difficult to go to the movies, since their government just ordered the closing of all theaters. Outside of its media entertainment services, Disney has also shut down both Disney World and Disneyland in an attempt to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This is only the fourth time in history that Disneyland has been closed. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.

Watchmen’s Damon Lindelof Would Love To Work in the MCU and Star Wars Universe

While doing press for his new movie The Hunt, which is finally being released after being delayed last August, Watchmen creator and showrunner Damon Lindeof expressed interest in doing projects for both Marvel and Star Wars. Lindelof's new excitement over the MCU stems from the upcoming Disney+ Phase 4 series, WandaVision. Here's what the former Lost showrunner told Fandom. “I think that doing something in the Marvel universe, anywhere in the Marvel Universe, would be really potentially exciting for me," he said, "especially as they start to get a little bit more experimental." “Some of the things that I’ve seen for Wandavision, for example, just feel like, ‘Okay, now we’re getting somewhere’. Particularly in a television space." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-wandavision-all-the-tv-sitcom-influences&captions=true"] "And, at some point," Lindelof added, "but certainly not in the immediate future, I feel like I would love to do something in the Star Wars universe. Maybe a decade from now when I would no longer be blamed for ruining it. That would be a hoot.” Marvel's WandaVision was initially slated to debut in 2021, but the release date was recently moved up to December 2020, edging closer towards the release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in August. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/11/the-hunt-review"] While little is known about the plot of WandaVision, Paul Bettany has previously described it as "the oddest of all the Marvel endeavours so far." Meanwhile, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige said that the series will feature Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff finally becoming/being named Scarlet Witch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.