Sony Music Nashville head Gary Overton surprised Nashville insiders when he announced he was stepping down from his position earlier this week, and now an artist who recently had some very harsh public words for him is weighing in.
Even before Sony was hacked and we got a look at their e-mails regarding Spider-Man, we knew that the company was scrambling to figure out what to do with the web-slinging hero. After talks with Marvel for a potential crossover with the character fizzled, it seemed as though Sony was focusing their energies on Spidey spin-offs and putting plans for ‘Amazing Spider-Man 3' on hold, perhaps indefinitely. But according to a new casting call, it looks like Sony might be moving ahead with the third installment in the underwhelming franchise after all.
Earlier today it was announced that Sony will release ‘The Interview’ in select theaters and on VOD this Christmas Day after all. Following the massive hacker attack on the company and subsequent terrorist threats from the group known as Guardians of Peace, Sony had no choice but to cancel the film’s release after major theater chains decided not to show the film. In a wonderful turn of events, following a petition from Art House Convergence, which was signed by many independent exhibitors, Sony is moving forward with the release. We have the full list of theaters that will screen the film this Thursday.
Full details are still forthcoming, but it looks like ‘The Interview’—Seth Rogen’s ultra-controversial comedy about an American assassination attempt on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un—will open on Christmas after all. Sony initially cancelled their planned December 25 release after hackers threatened theaters that dared to show ‘The Interview’ with terrorist attacks, and many of the biggest exhibitor chains in the country (including Regal and AMC) subsequently decided not to run the film.
Following today’s release of a message sent from the mysterious group responsible for the massive Sony hack, the company has now informed theater owners that they can opt out of screening ‘The Interview’ if they are concerned about the terrorist threat. Although the Department of Homeland Security responded by saying they could find “no credible info” on planned attacks, Sony has decided to place the decision to screen the film in the hands of theater executives.
Guardians Of The Galaxy just enjoyed a very successful weekend at movie theaters, taking home around $94m, far in excess of expectations. The movie also stands at 92% positive reviews on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, joining all previous Marvel Studios movies in receiving predominantly favorable notices.
Marvel Studios is doing very well. In six years and ten movies, it has avoided both critical and commercial disasters, and frustrated naysayers who hailed the demise of the superhero movie at every step. Marvel's rivals at Fox, Sony Columbia, and Warner Bros, have enjoyed commercial success as well -- but not with the acclaim, consistency, or proliferation of Marvel. So how does Marvel do it, and can they keep doing it?