Box-office Report July 4 Weekend

"Men in Black II" grabbed fistfuls of little green dollars at the box office as the alien-busting sequel debuted with $54.1 million in its first weekend, slightly more than the original took in.

That set a new record for a Fourth of July weekend, topping the $51.1 million the original "Men in Black" took in that weekend in 1997. But factoring in admission-price increases, the sequel sold fewer tickets than the original.

The overall box-office also set a new July Fourth record. The top 12 films alone grossed an estimated $219 million from Wednesday to Sunday, compared with $198.2 million for the top 50 movies over the five-day July Fourth weekend in 1996, the previous record holder.

On top of its $54.1 million Friday to Sunday total, "Men in Black II" has grossed $90 million since opening Wednesday, compared with $84.1 million for the original in its first five days.

"Men in Black II," which reunites Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as dark-clad agents for an agency that polices alien activity, packed theaters despite generally poor reviews.

The film bumped last weekend's No. 1 movie, "Mr. Deeds," to second place with $18.8 million in its second weekend. That pushed the 10-day total for "Mr. Deeds" to $74 million.

"Like Mike," an NBA basketball fantasy starring teen rapper Bow Wow, opened solidly at No. 3 with $13.1 million from Friday to Sunday. The movie has taken in $20.1 million since premiering Wednesday.

The weekend's other new wide release, "The Powerpuff Girls Movie," debuted a distant No. 9 with a weak $3.6 million for the weekend and $6.1 million since its Wednesday opening.

Distributor Sony, which is on a box-office tear, had both the No. 1 and No. 2 films, plus "Spider-Man," which grossed $2.2 million over the weekend to inch past $400 million.

"We see it as proof that all of them are working and there's room for all these films to do well," said Jeff Blake, Sony's head of distribution and marketing.

"Spider-Man" remains No. 5 on the all-time box-office charts, becoming only the third movie, after "Titanic" and "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace," to top $400 million in its initial release.

"Men in Black II" faced tougher competition than the original, which opened against a much weaker slate of new films and holdovers. Strong business for "Mr. Deeds," "Like Mike," "Lilo & Stitch," "Minority Report" and other movies likely siphoned some admissions away from "Men in Black II."

"You never can duplicate circumstances perfectly," Blake said. "While it's more money this time maybe it is less tickets, but no doubt, there's so many more pictures and so much more competition today."

Sony films accounted for 50 percent of the total weekend box office, and the studio expects to top $1 billion for the year by Thursday, hitting that mark in record time. In 1997, when the studio took in a record $1.26 billion, Sony's total did not reach $1 billion until Labor Day.

"Most studios don't make that much for a full year, so that's quite an accomplishment," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Yet to come for Sony this month is "Stuart Little 2." The studio's lineup before year's end includes Vin Diesel's "XXX," Dana Carvey's "The Master of Disguise," Eddie Murphy's "I Spy," Jennifer Lopez's "Chambermaid" and the animated " Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

"Men in Black II," $54.1 million.
"Mr. Deeds," $18.8 million.
"Like Mike," $13.1 million.
"Lilo & Stitch," $12.7 million.
"Minority Report," $12.4 million.
"The Bourne Identity," $9.1 million.
"Scooby-Doo," $7 million.
"The Sum of All Fears," $3.8 million.
"The Powerpuff Girls Movie," $3.6 million.
"Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," $2.9 million.

Peter Guber's Mandalay To Leave Paramount Pictures

Producer Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures, whose hits included "Sleepy Hollow" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer," will leave the Paramount Pictures lot when its deal expires in the next six to eight weeks.

Guber moved the company to Paramount in 1998 after his deal expired with Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he had previously been studio chief. Canada's Lions Gate Entertainment, which owns 45 percent of Mandalay Pictures, last week said it would sell the stake and write down its investment by $US19 million to an estimated fair value of $10 million.

Paramount, for which Guber executive produced the 1983 hit "Flashdance," distributed Mandalay's films in North America and certain foreign territories, with Mandalay financing its own overhead and development as a "stand-alone" company. Misfires included "Les Miserables" and "The Deep End of the Ocean."

Mandalay, like many other independent production and financing ventures, has had a hard time of late due to the turmoil in the global entertainment marketplace. It suffered a financial blow when Munich-based Cineartists, a potential backer, postponed its planned IPO on Germany's Neuer Markt at the beginning of 2001. Mandalay's other major German partner, KC Medien, had, however, continued to provide some financing.

Guber said the Paramount departure would not result in any layoffs or cutbacks in parent company Mandalay Entertainment's combined staff, which numbers between 22 and 24.

"We are moving across the street from Paramount with all our other branded entertainment companies, our TV and sports companies. It makes it easier to operate," said Guber.

Mandalay Entertainment's other units aside from motion picture operation Mandalay Pictures include Mandalay Television, Mandalay Sports and Mandalay E-Media. In March this year, Mandalay launched a marketing consultancy called Mandalay Branded Entertainment to build brand strength for clients through its film, TV and new-media projects.

Paramount will release the Mandalay-financed and produced "Serving Sara," a romantic comedy starring Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley, in August.

Mandalay is also in post-production on director Martin Campbell's high-profile Angelina Jolie starrer "Beyond Borders," also starring Teri Polo and Clive Owen. Mandalay financed the pic, for which Paramount will handle domestic distribution and release in a number of foreign territories.

Other features in development at Mandalay Pictures include "The Jacket," to be produced by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney; the Sean Connery starrer "End Game"; and "Fallen Angel," to be directed by John McNaughton.

Colin Farrell Cops 'S.W.A.T.' Shot

Colin Farrell, currently co-starring in "Minority Report," has inked to play Officer Jim Street in the big-screen adaptation of the 1970s cop show "S.W.A.T."

Farrell's payday, knowledgeable insiders say, approaches $8 million for the Columbia Pictures picture. Samuel L. Jackson signed to head the cast in May.

The film will be directed by Clark Johnson, who played Det. Meldrick Lewis in NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," and just helmed the pilot for HBO cop series "The Wire." Commercials veteran Zack Snyder had been poised to make his feature debut on the picture, but that deal did not come to pass.

The script for "S.W.A.T." comes from David Ayer, who penned both "The Fast and the Furious" and "Training Day."

The film's story line centers on an arrested drug kingpin who is transported by a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team -- led by Jackson's character -- out of the city and into federal custody. Plans go awry when the kingpin offers $100 million to anyone who can free him. Farrell will play Jim Street, a member of the S.W.A.T. crew.

Columbia executive vp production Amy Baer and creative executive Shannon Gaulding are overseeing the project, reporting to production president Peter Schlessel. "S.W.A.T." has been in development at the studio for several years and most recently had Paul Walker attached to star, with Zack Snyder directing. The project found a new life when Jackson and Johnson came aboard.

Farrell, repped by CAA and attorney Steve Warren, is currently in production on 20th Century Fox/Regency Enterprises' "Daredevil." He'll next star in the Joel Schumacher-directed feature "Phonebooth," due out in November. Farrell's credits include "American Outlaws" and "Hart's War."

Charlotte Church 'There' for feature debut at Morgan Creek

Teenage classical songstress Charlotte Church will make her acting debut in Morgan Creek Prods.' musical comedy tentatively titled "I'll Be There," which will mark the feature directorial debut of actor Craig Ferguson ("Saving Grace"), who co-wrote the project and will also star.

Principal photography begins this week in the United Kingdom for a March release.

The project is an offbeat comedy about a former '80s pop star (Ferguson) whose downward spiral is halted when he discovers he has a teenage daughter (Church) who was the result of a weekend love affair. Jemma Redgrave, Ralph Brown, Ian McNeice, Stephan Noonan, Joss Ackland and Imelda Staunton round out the cast.

Ferguson co-wrote the screenplay with Phillip McGrade. Morgan Creek chairman and CEO James Robinson is producing the project, with company president Guy McElwaine executive producing. "I'll Be There" will be distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures and internationally by Warner Bros. and Morgan Creek International.

Ferguson, who also wrote and co-produced "Grace," wrote, starred in and executive produced the mockumentary feature "The Big Tease." He is best known to American audiences as the supercilious Nigel Wick on "The Drew Carey Show."

Welsh soprano singer Charlotte Church released her debut album, "Voice of an Angel," on Sony Classical in 1998 when she was 13 years old. A self-titled effort followed in 1999 along with a Christmas album, "Dream a Dream," in 2000. All three went platinum. Her fourth release, "Enchantment," was released in the fall.

 'Mr. Deeds' goes to Fox, Turner for TV 

"Mr. Deeds" goes to Fox Broadcasting Co. and Turner Broadcasting.

Fox and Turner have snagged the network rights to the Columbia Pictures comedy starring Adam Sandler, which is a remake of Frank Capra's 1936 classic "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."

According to the deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Domestic TV, following the film's pay-cable run on HBO, Fox will get first crack at "Mr. Deeds" in early 2005 for 14 months. After a six-month window on Turner's TBS, the film is set to come back to Fox for four months, then return to TBS for the remaining 36 months of the five-year window.

The total license fee for "Mr. Deeds" is expected to exceed the standard 15% of the boxoffice gross. "Mr. Deeds," which co-stars Winona Ryder, was the boxoffice champ in its first weekend of release with $37.2 million and has grossed $74 million through Sunday.

The joint acquisition marks the second big summer 2002 Columbia Pictures title to be shared between Fox and Turner. Last month, as part CTDT's sale of four movies to eight different networks, Fox and Turner bought the rights to the studio's blockbuster "Spider-Man" in a 10-year big-bucks deal.

"Mr. Deeds" will add to Fox's Sandler movie collection. The broadcasts of "Happy Gilmore" and "Big Daddy" ranked as the third and ninth most-watched theatricals, respectively, on Fox during the 2001-02 season.

Phil Collins Ready To "TESTIFY" On New Album

Atlantic Records has announced the forthcoming release of the new album from Phil Collins, entitled "TESTIFY."

Slated for release on November 12th, this marks Collins's first all-new solo album in six years, and his first new music since the 1999 release of his hugely successful soundtrack for the Walt Disney animated feature film, Tarzan. The latter - which featured the top-charting hit single "You'll Be In My Heart" - earned Collins the triumphant triple crown of an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy in 2000.

Inspired by his new marriage in 1999 and his new fatherhood in 2001, "TESTIFY" is a captivating, wide-ranging collection of powerful, moving songs - all defined by Collins's signature voice and unmistakable musical imprint. Collins penned all the songs on the album, highlighted by such tracks as "Can't Stop Loving You," "Don't Get Me Started," "Testify," "Driving Me Crazy," and "Least You Can Do" (co-written by Daryl Stuermer).

"The songs for this album were written over the last two years," says Collins. "Working with new toys and new tools, they pretty much wrote themselves, and only occasionally needed nudging along. Though I used 90% of my demos, I was lucky to have a fantastic team to help me finish the record, particularly Rob Cavallo, Allen Sides, Tim Pierce, and James Sanger. There are some songs here that are amongst the best I have ever written; I hope you agree."

Since releasing his first solo album just over twenty years ago, Collins has sold 100 million records around the world (not counting his work with Genesis), earned seven Grammy Awards, and scored an enviable string of hit singles. It is a career which has really been many careers - drummer, singer, composer, producer... from art rock beginnings to pop stardom, from soundtrack master to big band leader.

In 1998, Collins's solo career to date was recapped on the multi-million-selling "HITS" collection. In addition to his music for Tarzan, 1999 saw the release of "A HOT NIGHT IN PARIS," a live album which marked the debut recording by Collins's much-praised big band, the formation of which was the fulfillment of a life-long ambition.

Last month, Phil served as the "house drummer" for the spectacular Queen's Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace - where he backed everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to longtime mate Eric Clapton.