'The Town' scribe tapped for 'Top Gun 2'

Paramount has tapped Peter Craig ("The Town") to write "Top Gun 2," which will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films and David Ellison's Skydance Prods. "X-Men: First Class" scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were hired to write the aerial sequel back in October, but the duo never put pen to paper, indicating that Craig will be starting from scratch. Plot details are nil, though Tony Scott and Tom Cruise are expected to be involved in the sequel, which Paramount is serious about moving forward with. Since writing WB's "The Town," which grossed $154 million worldwide, Craig has adapted the French Canadian hit "Fathers and Guns" for Columbia Pictures. Scribe also rewrote Ted Tally's adaptation of Doug Stanton's novel "Horse Soldiers," which Bruckheimer is producing. Craig is repped by CAA and Management 360. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Social Energy Ratings: Don't Shoot the Messenger, Fringe Fans!

Emilie p Ravin has signed up with an ABC drama pilot, but it is not Beauty and also the Animal. The previous Lost star has became a member of the cast of Americana, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Deadline first reported this news Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Anthony LaPagliaKen OlinMichael SeitzmanEmilie p RavinNorth CountryMark GordonNatalie MendozaBrothers & SistersOnce Upon a TimeLostGrey's AnatomyAmericana

Comic Doug Benson on the Ups, Downs and Delights of Live-Tweeting the Oscars

The Academy Awards telecast stopped being a one-screen experience years ago. An Oscar viewing party is all well and good, but with a computer or phone nearby, a virtual theater full of people will enhance the experience from the first red-carpet arrivals to the music playing over the Best Picture winners speech. Yes, your friends are witty and can also fetch you a beer, but the best jokes about the winners, losers and everything in between are on Twitter. Some professionals make watching the Oscars simply worth the hours (and hours) spent. Doug Benson is one of them. A stand-up comedian and writer including penning jokes for award shows Benson began recording a weekly podcast called Doug Loves Movies in 2006. Movieline talked with the devoted movie fan about the fleeting art of live-tweeting cinemas greatest night, who the best hosts are and whether the Oscars ever really pull off comedy. Are you live-tweeting the Oscars this year? How many ceremonies (Oscars, Golden Globes) have you done? I'm planning on it. As long as I can get Internet access wherever I'm watching the show. I live-tweet every show that I can, as long as everyone is seeing it live at the same time. The Grammys are on a tape delay on the West Coast, so its not fun live-tweeting that when the East Coast saw it all hours before. What's been the entertainment value of the Oscar ceremonies of the past few years? There is very little entertainment value. Thats why I live-tweet during it. To entertain myself and anyone else who might find the whole thing boring. I love movies, and I love that the Oscars honor filmmakers that do great work, but the whole thing is usually a fucking slog. The Golden Globes were so boring this year, I lost interest in live-tweeting it halfway through. Do you think the Twitter/comedian commentariat builds up the mythology ofthe Oscars? It makes the Oscars more tolerable, for sure. Which is good for the Oscars, I guess. When the jokes are lacking on the show, people can turn to Twitter for some laughs, instead of turning the show off and finding something of value to do with their night. What do you think about the relationship between comedy and the Oscars? Having written for several award shows, I know that banter is tough to pull off, even by performers known for their comedic chops. Because the whole setup is so artificial, and the audience in the auditorium really doesnt give a shit about hearing jokes. They just want to win or lose and go to a party. Should most presenters stick to non-comedic intros? That can be even more deadly than trying to be funny. When the Oscars trot out an actor to tell us how sound editing works, the home audience trots to the kitchen or the bathroom. My favorite intro I ever wrote for someone, which was actually approved and said by Jennifer Jason Leigh on the Independent Spirit Awards: Without screenwriting, movies would be plays. Is there anything you're looking forward to at the Oscars this year? Billy Crystal singing about Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Its always weird to me that he sings a medley about nominated movies, even if its serious shit like Schindlers List and Saving Private Ryan. Where would you rank Billy Crystal among the past Oscar hosts? Definitely up there with Johnny Carson and Bob Hope as the best. Those guys know how to say something funny after something silly just happened, and in a self-deprecating way. I liked when Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin hosted together. I even liked the David Letterman year. A comedian is always going to be the best choice. Follow Doug Benson's Academy Awards live-tweeting at @DougBenson. [Photo: Robyn Von Swank]

Netflix to eliminate share of top movies

Losing the Netflix-Starz agreement is often more really felt among the 2010 records, including Disney's 'Toy Story 3.'The impending expiration of Netflix's movie deal with Starz within the finish in the month will reduce its business of top movies available among subscription VOD services, according to new data come up with by investment firm Piper Jaffray.Netflix retains 17% in the finest grossing movies inside the U.S. of history couple of years, most likely probably the most connected having a service. However in the conclusion of February that 17% figure drops to 11% when Netflix's distribution deal with Starz expires. That's still a significant number in comparison to zero at Netflix rivals Amazon . com . com Prime Instant Videos and Hulu Plus, which has always situated itself weight reduction from the hub for catch-up viewing of Television show than films. While only one of the top 50 movies of 2011, Disney's "Gnomeo and Juliet," took it's origin from the pact, losing that agreement is often more really felt among the 2010 records, where three in the top 12 box-office draws of the year all came from from Disney including No. one inchPlaything Story 3," additionally to "Twisted" and "Tron Legacy." Two more Disney films, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of the timeInch and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," will be in the most effective 50 too. Another studio covered inside the Starz deal, The brand new the new sony Pictures, does not have records inside the top 50 from either year because high-grossing game game titles like "The Karate Kid" were already removed Netflix due to another contractual dispute between Starz and also the new the new sony.The Starz films -- licensed for under $20-Thirty Dollars million in 2008 -- were seen as instrumental to Netflix' rapid growth over time. But founder Reed Hastings recommended for his letter to traders lately connected fourth-quarter earnings the 15 Disney movies incorporated inside the deal only constituted 2% of total viewing. Netflix formerly thought that this content covered inside the Starz deal represented 8% of total viewing, nevertheless the streaming service has since re-licensed a couple of from the content too.Although total top game game titles is probably not the key indicator from the subscription VOD service's value, given they typically tout the potency of their extended-tail catalog, Netflix has put growing concentrate on having the ability to obtain programming inside the pay-TV window through handles Relativity, EPIX and Open Road. The completely new data supplies a glimpse to the comparative talents in the rival subscription VOD services. While both companies get observed for each deal they've created with art galleries in addition to their total quantity of game game titles, gauging the quantity of most broadly used game game titles offers a apparent method of comparison. However, box-office receipts and tv ratings doesn't imply these game game titles retain their relative recognition online.Nevertheless the research also found Netflix is finding more momentum round the TV side, where it's closing the area on Hulu Also within the way to obtain top Tv shows. Hulu Plus presently provides 49% in the finest rated Television show within the last couple of years compared to 44% for Netflix on one measure. When Piper Jaffray experts checked in on companies last August, Netflix what food is at 32% while Hulu Plus what food is at 53%. While Netflix remains known to like a film-centric service, chief content officer Ted Sarandos indicated late a year ago that 50-60% of the total viewing arises from TV programming.Amazon . com . com taken care of just for 6% of top Tv shows, up from 1% last August. Amazon . com . com introduced this year's week that it's Prime library had showed up at 15,000 game game titles after twelve several weeks in operation. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Kinepolis sees 30% profit hike

LONDON -- European cinema group Kinepolis reported a 30% rise in profit to 36.5 million ($47.5 million) this year, with sales up 6.one percent to 253.7 million ($329.8 million). The Belgium-based exhibitor, that also works multiplexes in France, The country, Europe and Belgium, drenched 21.3 million admissions this past year, just .3% lower from 2010. But box office revenue was up 2.1% to 149.a million ($193.8 million), because of greater ticket prices. Credits and screen advertising were also up. A Kinepolis statement stated this revenue growth reflected a noticable difference within the customer experience from the purchase of digitization, re-designing its theaters, and enhancing the drink and food available. Growth wasn't uniform over the areas by which Kinepolis works. The The spanish language business experienced from that country's economic worries, with ticket sales falling 7.9% to 4.two million within the group's three sites. Belgian admissions increased 2.8% from 11 sites, while French ticket sales ticked up .5%. Admissions across Europe carried out most powerful within the final quarter of 2011, after lagging considerably behind 2010 within the first nine several weeks of the season. France and Belgium were buoyed by strong local movies, for example "Intouchables" and "Rundskop," as the local connection of "The Adventures of Tintin" and "The Smurfs" also assisted to push individuals films in to the top 5 entertainers for Kinepolis. Despite a bigger quantity of three dimensional releases, total three dimensional ticket sales were lower this year, without any blockbuster to complement the three dimensional success of "Avatar" this year. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Life' carries regional flag for character-based drama

'A Simple Life' is Hong Kongs foreign-language Oscar candidateHong Kong movies are famously gritty, urban affairs, often ending with the hero and the villain facing off against each other with heavy-caliber pistols in a zero-sum game, jacked up with big themes of honor and vengeance, combined with a dose of humor and a lot of top-drawer chopsocky.These days, the pics are more likely to take place during the Warring States period of ancient China (475 to 221 B.C.), and although the big themes are still there, some Hong Kongers are worried that some of the territory's character could be lost in translation back across the ages.On the other hand, there are signs that smaller Hong Kong movies are proving resilient to growing pressures to produce commercial movies.Ann Hui's "A Simple Life," is a case in point. Hong Kong's foreign-language Oscar entry, the pic took helmer, actress and actor trophies at the Golden Horse Film Awards. Actress honors went to veteran Hong Kong thesp Deanie Ip, who also won at Venice in September for her role in the film.The pic deals with the relationship between an aging domestic helper, played by Ip, and her employer, played by Andy Lau, who won the Golden Horse actor kudo.Lau said the Golden Horse awards should be a rallying call for the Hong Kong film biz to emulate that of Taiwan. For many people, the success of "A Simple Life" has offered reassurance about the relative health of Hong Kong cinema.BERLIN DAILY SPOTLIGHT: HONG KONG CINEMA Borders in disorder | 'Life' carries regional flag for character-based drama | The kings of kong Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Summit pushes back 'Warm Bodies'

Summit has moved zombie romancer "Warm Bodies" out of the summer and back six months from Aug. 10 to Feb. 1 -- where it's now the only wide release.Directed by Jonathan Levine and starring Nicolas Hoult and Theresa Palmer, story centers on an unusual zombie who rescues a girl from imminent death at the hands of his cohorts and their unlikely romance setting in motion a chain of events that will transform him, his fellow dead, and maybe even the whole lifeless world.Bruna Papandrea is producing through her Make Movies banner along with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman via Mandeville Films.Sony's "Warm Springs" and Warner Bros. "Rivals" remain the wide openers on Aug. 10. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com