Box Office Preview: 'Puss in Boots,' 'Adventures of Tintin' Set to Rule the planet

Steven Spielberg and longtime compatriot Jeffrey Katzenberg are poised to dominate the world box office a few days ago using their two particular family films, The Adventures of Tintin: The Key from the Unicorn and Puss in Boots.our editor recommendsSteven Spielberg's 'Adventures of Tintin' Soaring in Overseas DebutPuss in Boots: Film ReviewThe Adventures of Tintin: The Key from the Unicorn: Film ReviewThe Rum Diary: Film ReviewIn Time: Film ReviewSUNDANCE REVIEW: Constantly From Katzenberg's DreamWorks Animation, Puss in Boots is basically set towards the win the domestic box-office race as Vital opens the three dimensional toon in 3,952 theaters in The United States, including 2,827 three dimensional locations. PHOTOS: 'In Time' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals Box office experts expect the Shrek spin-on gross within the $35-$39 million range, a proper number for Halloween weekend, which is not usually prime territory for any family film. Puss in Boots, that is generating glowing reviews, includes a obvious shot at besting the very best Halloween opening ever, the $33.six million gained by Lionsgate's Saw III in 2006. Vital initially meant to open Puss in Boots, featuring Antonio Banderas within the voice role he earned very popular in Shrek, on November. 4, but increased the discharge with a week to provide the pic more space before a deluge of Thanksgiving family game titles open. PHOTOS: 'The Adventures of Tintin' U.K. Premiere Blue Carpet Arrivals While Vital and DreamWorks Animation could forfeit some business a few days ago due to Halloween, they feel the film may have a particularly strong second weekend. DWA's Kung Fu Panda 2 opened up to $47.7 million captured, while Megamind first showed to $46 million at the begining of November 2011. Tintin, directed by Spielberg, is poised to dominate the worldwide marketplace, where it might open north of $$ 30 million from the first key areas, including Tintin's home country of Belgium. The pic is Spielberg's first three dimensional film. PHOTOS: Images From Steven Spielberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin' Tintin may be the to begin two films that Spielberg and Jackson are working together on (Jackson will direct the 2nd title). Vital and The new sony are partners around the project and dividing up distribution responsibilities. Since the character Tintin is a lot more beloved overseas, the film is moving available first. It debuts within the U.S. within the Christmas holiday. PHOTOS: Top 15 Grossing Threequels ever Tintin started playing in previews the 2009 week in Belgium, France and also the U.K. before the official opening on Wednesday within the three areas. It's already made nearly $9 million, together with a record-breaking $4.5 million in France, where it might score the greatest opening ever after Avatar. The three dimensional motion-capture movie opens on Friday in many other foreign marketplaces. In the domestic box office, two other wide gamers debut: New Regency's Justin Timberlake-Amanda Seyfried sci-fi thriller Over Time and FilmDistrict's The Actor-brad Pitt starrer The Rum Diary, according to Hunter S. Thompson's semi-autobiographical novel about his beginning like a journalist in Puerto Rico. However, Vital's Paranormal Activity 3 will probably beat both new records for No. 2 after opening to some record-breaking $52.six million last weekend, and grossing $60.5 million through Wednesday. PHOTOS: 'Puss in Boots' Premiere Red-colored Carpet Arrivals Written by Fox, Over Time is searching in a relatively modest opening within the low teens. The film, directed by Andrew Niccol, was fully funded and created by New Regency for roughly $35 million. Over Time, occur a society where nobody lives beyond age 25 unless of course they are able to buy time, is naturally monitoring best among moviegoers younger than 25, a demo that's been largely absent in the box office. While experts have noted the film's original story, the reviews overall weren't good. Rum Diary continues to be drawing better notices, but they're still mixed. FilmDistrict needs the pic to spread out within the $9-$12 million range, and states it will attract both Depp fans in addition to fans of Thompson, who switched up in pressure at various college tests from the film, including at Columbia College and also the College of California at Berkeley. There is a flurry of activity in the niche box office, such as the debut of Roland Emmerich's period Shakespeare drama Anonymous, which opens in 260 theaters. In the eleventh hour, according to soft monitoring, The new sony made the decision to lessen the discharge from the film, which in fact had been set to spread out countrywide. Vital opens Drake Doremus' Sundance Film Festival favorite Constantly in four theaters in NY and La. Related Subjects Worldwide The Rum Diary Constantly Puss in Boots The Adventures of Tintin Over Time

Warner Bros. Taps Young Scribes for Facebook-Inspired Drama (Exclusive)

For proof that in Hollywood, youth isking, consider writing partnersIsaac Aptaker, 24, andElizabeth Berger, 26. The duo broke into the biz three years ago with the Facebook-inspired romantic comedy specLauren Pemberton Is No Longer in a Relationship. They quickly won over execs with their fresh insight into the finicky youth demo, scoring jobs on NBC's short-livedFriends With Benefitsthat made them the youngest staff writers on network TV. That gig led to writing jobs on MTV's upcoming seriesI Just Want My Pants Back. Now the scribes (Verve,Management 360,Industry) are returning to their Facebook roots, adaptingThe Future of Us, a social media-centered drama being made by Warner Bros. and Di Novi Pictures. The story of a young woman who logs onto the Internet in 1996 and discovers her Facebook profile from 15 years in the future resonated with Aptaker and Berger, whose father was a head writer onSesame Street. Says Aptaker, "There's an authenticity and an immediacy that comes from writing about people our ages and the time of life that we're in." Related Topics Facebook

Film Clip and Matt Damon Will Re-Team for Whitey Bulger Movie

In that lengthy-forgotten year of 1997, Matt Damon and Film Clip were the bestest of beffies. The adorable scamps -- and long term buddies -- co-authored 'Good Will Hunting' together, co-starred within the film and won an Oscar for the best Original Script. Since that time they have clearly continued to be close, but never really worked with again (though they did appear together in 'Dogma' and 'Jay & Quiet Bob Strike Back' for Kevin Cruz). It had been rumored that Matt and Ben would re-team for 'The Trade,' about a set of real-existence wife-changing NY Yankees in the '70s, however with that getting hit some legal snags, the pals have centered on a brand new project: the existence and arrest of Whitey Bulger. "We are carrying out a Whitey Bulger movie," Damon told GQ concerning the infamous South Boston mob boss who was simply around the lam for 16 years before his arrest in California within the summer time. "Warner's first got it for all of us.Inch That might be Warner Bros., the industry studio where Affleck has grown his flag like a director. He's already done 'Gone Baby Gone' and 'The Town' for that studio and it has 'Argo' coming next fall he being drawn on by Warner Bros. professionals his or her option to direct 'The Stand.' Affleck will handle filmmaking responsibilities around the Bulger project, with Damon starring and 'Boardwalk Empire' creator Terence Winter writing the script. "You will find a few competing movies and that i don't believe it has been introduced yet that we are doing the work,Inch Damon stated. "However the sooner it's introduced the greater, simply because everybody else will back away, hopefully. I am really looking forward to it." Damon has some knowledge of the Bulger story Jack Nicholson's character in 'The Departed' -- which co-starred the first kind Will Hunting -- was partly inspired through the gangster. Per Deadline, he'll really play Bulger, while Affleck's brother Casey will contribute within the film too. "We have learned about Whitey Bulger since i was kids, and that we are excited by the possibilities of using it screen," stated Affleck. [via GQ] [Photo: WireImage] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

UPDATE: Summit Reacts To Milla Jovovich Ripping Via Twitter Musketeers Marketing

UPDATE: Hollywood was buzzing Fridaywhen actressMilla Jovovichtook to Twitter to bitchslap Summit Entertainment over the promotion for Three Musketeers 3D. Jovovich texted that the film wasnt marketed as a fun family film and that Summit is resting on their laurels because of the Twilight franchise and making no effort for her film. (See below). So I asked Summit last night what it thought of Milla’s accusations, and an executive pointed out that the actress had been up in Canada shooting the next Resident Evil installment “and working 15-hour days and probably didn’t see the campaign. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about and we don’t know where she’s coming from.” The studio points to awareness in the 80s as a sure sign that the movie was marketed adequately even if U.S. grosses were terrible. “Wouldn’t you think she would call us first about this? It’s frustrating. it’s not the right way to behave. If she has a problem then come to the studio and talk about it.” Milla was tweeting on her flight to Japan where Three Musketeers 3D is debuting at the Tokyo International Film Festival. I wonder if Summit will cancel her car pickup and strand her at the airport for mouthing off. PREVIOUS: If you don’t know that Summit Entertainment is releasing The Three Musketeers today, the film’s star Milla Jovovich says she knows why: the distributor isn’t promoting it properly. She took to her Twitter feed early this morning on her way to Tokyo, where the Paul W.S. Anderson-directed update of the swashbuckling tale is opening the Tokyo International Film Festival. A sample: Also, “3 musketeers” opens in the US 2night! Do you think ppl know abt the movie? Ask your friends! Do they know it’s a fun family film? I think “summit” hve swept “3 Musketeers”, a grt family adventure film, under the rug in the US. Shame on them. SHAME ON YOU “SUMMIT”.

Paranormal Activity 3 Opens To Franchise-Best $8M Midnights: Ends Box Office Slump

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 21, 2011 AFI FEST presented by Audi, a showcase of the most highly anticipated films and performances of the year, today announced the remaining programs and their films that will screen in the festivals World Cinema, Breakthrough, Midnight and Shorts programs at the 25th edition this November. World Cinema showcases the most anticipated and prize-winning international films of the year, Breakthrough highlights works discovered only through the submissions process and Midnights eclectic selection presents films with provocative and unexpected ideas. Both World Cinema and Breakthrough feature a number of films making their U.S. premieres, including ALMAYERS FOLLY, CAF DU FLORE, FAUST and WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT (World Premiere). Three of the 35 shorts in competition are from AFI Conservatorys recent classes of 2010 and 2011 Julian Higgins THIEF, which won the top prize in narrative filmmaking at the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards and top honors at the 32nd College Television Awards earlier this year, Lindsay MacKays CLEAR BLUE, which placed second at the 32nd College Television Awards and Casey Cooper Johnsons UNMANNED, which was finished just in time for festival submission. Rick Rosenthals (AFI Directing Class of 1973) BLINK is also in competition. The AFI Conservatory was rated the #1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter for the quality of its instructors and speakers, and its glittering parade of alumni. AFI FEST kicks off awards season with presentations that spotlight the work of film masters, moving image icons and breakthrough talents. Many of the casts are international, and the directors hail from across the globe. This years AFI FEST will screen 110 films (70 features, 40 shorts) selected from over 3,000 submissions across 36 countries, with France (11), Belgium (9) and Canada (5) topping the international selections. The breakdown by section is: Galas/Tributes (8), Special Screenings (11), Young Americans (6), New Auteurs (9), World Cinema (21), Midnight (3), Spotlight (3), Breakthrough (4) and Short Films (39), and includes eight official foreign-language Oscar submissions. The films in the World Cinema, Breakthrough, and previously announced New Auteurs and Young Americans sections are eligible for their respective sections Audience Award, while the Shorts program and New Auteurs also feature jury-selected prizes. This years Shorts jury consists of filmmakers Barry Jenkins and Gerardo Naranjo (AFI Conservatory Class of 2001) and festival programmer Kim Yutani. The New Auteurs Critics Prize jury is comprised exclusively of film critics: Justin Chang (Variety), Mike Goodridge (Screen International), Mark Olsen (LA Times, Film Comment, LA Weekly) and Jean Oppenheimer (American Cinematographer, KPCC). Companies exhibiting at the American Film Market (AFM), the market partner of AFI FEST, will represent 27 of the films presented at this years AFI FEST and 11 of them will screen at the market. For the third consecutive year, AFI FEST will continue its unprecedented offer of free tickets to all screenings. The new AFI FEST Cinepass, the Special Screenings pass and Patron Passes which ensure access to sold-out presentations and other high-demand films and events are on sale now. Pass purchases are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Additional information is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST, 1.888.AFI FEST and on-site at the AFI FEST box office at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. Individual tickets to AFI FEST will be available to AFI members on Wednesday, October 26 in a 24-hour advance window before they become available to the general public on October 27. In addition, AFI members and AFI Conservatory alumni receive a 10% discount on all passes. Information about AFI membership is available at AFI.com/membership. AFI FEST will take place November 3 through 10 in Hollywood, California, at the historic Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. WORLD CINEMA SELECTIONS A showcase of modern masters and emerging filmmakers from across the globe, this years World Cinema program showcases some of the most anticipated and prize-winning international films of the year. ALMAYERS FOLLY: DIR/SCR Chantal Akerman. Belgium/France. U.S. Premiere. ALPS: DIR Yorgos Lanthimos. SCR Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou. Greece/France. U.S. Premiere. ARIRANG: DIR Kim Ki-duk. South Korea. U.S. Premiere. CAF DU FLORE: DIR/SCR Jean-Marc Valle. Canada. U.S. Premiere. CARR BLANC: DIR/SCR Jean-Baptiste Lonetti. France/Luxembourg/Russia/Belgium/Switzerland. U.S. Premiere. THE DAY HE ARRIVES: DIR/SCR Hong Sang-Soo. South Korea. U.S. Premiere. EXTRATERRESTRIAL: DIR/SCR Nacho Vigalondo. Spain. FAUST: DIR Alexander Sokurov. SCR Alexander Sokurov, Marina Koreneva. Russia. U.S. Premiere. FOOTNOTE: DIR/SCR Joseph Cedar. Israel. Israels official foreign-language Oscar submission. THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD: DIR Joshua Marston. SCR Joshua Marston, Andamion Murataj. USA/Albania/Denmark/Italy. THE INVADER: DIR Nicolas Provost. SCR Nicolas Provost, Giordano Gederlini, Franois Pirot. Belgium. U.S. Premiere. JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI: DIR David Gelb. USA. KINYARWANDA: DIR/SCR Alrick Brown. USA. MAMA AFRICA: DIR Mika Kaurismki. Germany/South Africa/Finland. ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA: DIR Nuri Bilge Ceylan. SCR Ercan Kesal, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Turkey/Bosnia/Herzegovina. Turkeys official foreign-language Oscar submission. PLAY: DIR/SCR Ruben stlund. Sweden/France/Denmark. A SEPARATION: DIR/SCR Asghar Farhadi. Iran. Irans official foreign-language Oscar submission. THE SILVER CLIFF: DIR Karim Anouz. SCR Beatriz Brachner, Karim Anouz. Brazil. TARGET: DIR Alexander Zeldovich. SCR Vladimir Sorokin, Alexander Zeldovich. Russia. THIS IS NOT A FILM: DIR/SCR Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Jafar Panahi. Iran. THE TURIN HORSE: DIR Bla Tarr. SCR Bla Tarr, Lszl Krasznahorkai. Hungary. Hungarys official foreign-language Oscar submission. BREAKTHROUGH SELECTIONS The Breakthrough films are true discoveries films that come straight from the submissions process. EXPECTING: DIR/SCR Francisca Fuenzalida. Chile. U.S. Premiere. LIGHT OF MINE: DIR Brett Eichenberger. SCR Jill Remensnyder. USA. THREE AND A HALF: DIR/SCR Naghi Nemati. Iran. U.S. Premiere. WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT: DIR/SCR Alexandra-Therese Keining. Sweden. World Premiere. MIDNIGHT SELECTIONS The Midnight section showcases an eclectic group of films across the globe from fearless proponents of provocative, jarring and unexpected ideas. BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW: DIR/SCR Panos Cosmatos. USA. HEADHUNTERS: DIR Morten Tyldum. DIR Morten Tyldum. SCR Lars Gudmestad, Ulf Ryberg. Norway. KILL LIST: DIR Ben Wheatley. SCR Ben Wheatley, Amy Jump. UK. SHORT FILM SELECTIONS (In Competition) The films in this section are in competition for the Grand Jury Prize for Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film. Both award categories are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as qualifiers for the annual Academy Awards. 30,000 DAYS: DIR Stephanie Barber. USA. ALL FLOWERS IN TIME: DIR Jonathan Caouette. USA. ALL IN ALL: DIR Charlie Reff. USA. ANOTHER BULLET DOGED: DIR Landon Zakheim. USA. BABYLAND: DIR Marc Fratello. USA. BLINK: DIR Rick Rosenthal. AFI Conservatory Directing Class of 1973. Canada. BROKEN NIGHT: DIR Yang Hyo-Joo. Korea. CLEAR BLUE: DIR Lindsay MacKay. AFI Conservatory Thesis Film/AFI Directing Class of 2010. USA. DR. BREAKFAST: DIR Stephen Neary. USA. THE EAGLEMAN STAG: DIR Michael Please. UK. EX-SEX: DIR Michael Mohan. USA. FROZEN STORIES: DIR Grzegorz Jaroszuk. Poland. INFINITE MINUTES: DIR Cecilia Felmeri. Hungary/Romania. JUAN Y LA BORREGA: DIR J. Xavier Velasco. Mexico. LIBERTAS: DIR Kan Lume. Australia/Singapore. LITTLE KITTEN: DIR Stephanie Barber. USA. MASKA: DIR Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay. USA. MEXICAN CUISINE: DIR Francisco Guijarro. USA. NEGATIVAPEG: DIR M. Rankin. Canada. NIGHT HUNTER: DIR Stacy Steers. USA. ONCE IT STARTED IT COULD NOT END OTHERWISE: DIR Kelly Sears. USA. ONE MINUTE PUBERTY: DIR Alexander Gellner. USA. PIONEER: DIR David Lowery. USA. PROTOPARTICLES: DIR Chema Garca Ibarra. Spain. RUNAWAY: DIR Victor Carrey. Spain. SATAN SINCE 2003: DIR Carlos Puga. USA. SLEEP STUDY: DIR Kerri Lenoo, John Merriman. USA. TATUMS GHOST: DIR Stephanie Barber. USA. THIEF: DIR Julian Higgins. AFI Conservatory Thesis Film/AFI Directing Class of 2010. USA. TO DIE NEXT TO YOU: Dir Simon Cahn, Spike Jonze. France. UNMANNED: DIR Casey Cooper Johnson. AFI Conservatory Thesis Film/AFI Directing Class of 2011. USA. THE VOYAGERS: DIR Penny Lane. USA. WERE LEAVING: DIR Zachary Treitz. USA. YEARBOOK: DIR Carter Smith. USA. ZERGUT: DIR Natasha Subramaniam, Alisa Lapidu. USA. SHORT FILM SELECTIONS (Out of Competition) AANTENI: DIR Todd Cole. USA. I SAW YOUR SISTER YESTERDAY: DIR Mina Park. USA. MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO: DIR Juliano Dornelles. Brazil. MY BOW BREATHING: DIR Enrico Maria Artale. Italy. Film stills and director headshots are available for press use only and can be downloaded at flickr.com/photos/afifestpublicity/collections. About the American Film Institute AFI is Americas promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI provides leadership in film, television and digital media and is dedicated to initiatives that engage the past, the present and the future of the moving image arts. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and Archive, the AFI Life Achievement Award, now in it’s 40th year, AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, AFI Fest presented by Audi, celebrating its 25th edition this fall, AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs, AFI Silver Theatre and the AFI Conservatory, which was named the # 1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter. Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com.

Equity, Talbert make a deal

Talbert Legit thesps' union Actors Equity Assn. and David E. Talbert Presents, the company that has produced a string of stage offerings on the urban circuit, have made a deal for a labor contract that is Equity's first in that market. Urban circuit shows, which cater primarily to African-American auds, have traditionally hit the road in non-Equity tours. Circuit shows operate outside of the traditional Broadway model, booking single-performances and split-week stints in many markets and selling tickets at prices that are generally lower than the Main Stem norm. Talbert is one of the most prolific producers on the circuit, with credits including "Tellin' It Like It 'Tiz," "He Say, She Say, But What Does God Say?" and "Love in the Nick of Tyme." His upcoming Morris Chestnut starrer "What My Husband Doesn't Know," will be the first to go out under the Equity pact. The new Urban Broadway Contract is based on the Short Engagement Touring Agreement, encompassing regulations on salary, work rules and health and pension benefits. The pact is poised to benefit both sides, with Talbert now able to employ Equity thesps and the union making its first inroads in a market that, while popular and profitable with its core auds, often flies under the radar of Broadway-centric legiters. Equity organizers hope the Talbert agreement will be a model for deals with other producers on the circuit. "What My Husband Doesn't Know," also starring Michelle Williams, Ann Nesby and Clifton Davis, is skedded to stop in some 20 cities through November. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

A ballsy time to sell sports

The need for attention-grabbing properties has made TV's hunger for sports more ravenous than ever. Yet all the cash flowing into these games has only made the sporting world more chaotic than ever -- and must have left networks wondering about the sobriety of their business partners.Buoyed by the unquenchable appetite for sports, the new trend is for every pro franchise, college conference and even an individual marquee team, like the U. of Texas, to demand its own channel. And instead of pausing to wonder at what point the banana slices become too thin for consumers to notice, such outfits as ESPN, Fox Sports and Time Warner Cable appear content to let the inmates run the asylum.While all of this raises questions about whether greed might strangle the golden goose, since nobody wants to risk being left behind, there's little evidence of concern about death by gluttony.Despite splitting $9 billion annually, pro football's owners and players engaged in labor strife over the summer, then grudgingly reached a deal -- and returned in time to post predictably boffo ratings. Meanwhile, sharing a mere $4 billion a year has resulted in poverty-pleading NBA owners sidelining pro basketball players for at least the season's first two weeks, and possibly much longer.Like the NFL, the NBA is coming off a terrific season ratings-wise, fueled by the free-agency fracas unleashed by pitchman supreme LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammates. Yet the league could squander that momentum if it sacrifices most or all of the season -- a distinct possibility.The NBA's absence leaves the spotlight on Major League Baseball, whose postseason pyrotechnics actually have people buzzing about the game again. Of course, in order to fully appreciate America's pastime, one has to ignore the scandals pertaining to steroids or insolvent owners that have recently filled courtrooms.Still, the wackiest developments have involved the aforementioned creation of an ever greater number of local or regional sports networks, some of which will suffer if the NBA lockout lingers.Time Warner initiated a bidding war in Los Angeles by snagging rights to the much-beloved Lakers, prompting Fox Sports to preemptively seek to extend its relationship with the Dodgers via a 17-year, $3-billion deal. The only problem was that Dodger owner Frank McCourt desperately needs the cash to, among other things, settle his messy and very public divorce, prompting MLB commissioner Bud Selig -- concerned about how McCourt might spend the $385 million Fox pledged to commit upfront -- to step in and halt the agreement. (Full disclosure: I'm a part-time contributor to Foxsports.com.)College football, meanwhile, has tampered with decades of tradition and upended historic rivalries in a frenzied attempt to reconfigure itself into "super-conferences" in order to maximize TV revenues. Although the conference-hopping has temporarily cooled, the amount of time devoted to pondering where teams would land during the off season was exceeded only by the steady drip of scandals over players receiving improper benefits. In their own way, each thread illustrates the lack of rational authority governing what many derisively refer to as amateur athletics.Through all of this, major media companies have essentially thrown up their hands, insisting their billions in fees play no part in perpetuating flaws in the current system.This much is certain: The money keeps growing. Consider ESPN's $15 billion deal to extend its "Monday Night Football" rights through 2021 -- increasing its annual payment more than 70%, to $1.9 billion. For a network that needs exclusive programming to command lofty fees from cable operators and consumers, the NFL is simply must-have TV -- suggesting additional payments from other networks, and thus plenty more cash for owners and players to fight over in the future.Still, focusing on networks and leagues ignores another constituency in this equation -- and perhaps the most significant one: Die-hard fans, who might periodically express their disgust over battles pitting millionaire players against billionaire owners, but who in practice can't stay away for any length of time.As long as fans remain addicted to the exploits of their favorite teams, in other words, all the major sports will have them -- and the TV industry -- by the balls. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

REVIEW: Genial Birder Comedy The Big Year Ponders Life's Big Questions, with Few Goofy Hijinks

The Big Year has such an overstuffed comedic cast that it’s a shock to realize how modest and unconcerned with generating broad laughs it is. Directed by David Frankel (of The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me), produced by Ben Stiller and adapted from a book by former Denver Post reporter Mark Obmascik, The Big Year is only really a comedy in that it’s tonally light and doesn’t ever firmly commit in another direction. Mostly, it’s an earnest showcase for the subculture and annual circuit of competitive bird watching — the preferred term for the true devotees, apparently, is “birding” — in which the hardcore travel around the country hoping for sightings of as many species as possible, some keeping track (honor system only!) and submitting their final count to the North American Big Year contest. If you can’t begin to understand why someone would want to commit a significant amount of time and money to this activity (I’m still scratching my head over it myself), neither can many of the bemused supporting characters in the movie. One of the most commendable things about The Big Year is its willingness to allow that your passions are your passions, and while the world may not comprehend them, that doesn’t mean they have to be a source of unfair mockery. The three leads all experience their own encounters with resistance and scatterings of support, but the film never makes its obsessives into easy targets. Sad sack Brad Harris (Jack Black), who narrates, tries to balance his full time job at a nuclear plant with the time and expense of his pursuit of a Big Year, the helpfulness of his mother (Dianne Wiest) countered by the uncomprehending scorn of his father (Brian Dennehy). Then there’s former hotshot NY exec Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), who has the blessings of his loving spouse (JoBeth Williams) and enough cash to make travel to places like Brownsville, Texas, and Attu Island in Alaska easy. But his former colleagues (Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale — see what I mean about the cast?) still call on him for his business expertise, trying to lure him out of retirement. New Jersey contractor Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is the reigning champion of birding, but his competitiveness in the field has destroyed his past marriage and threatens his current one, as his wife (Rosamund Pike) grows impatient about his absences as she undergoes fertility treatments in the hopes of getting pregnant. Genial and mild, The Big Year doesn’t give in to the temptation to juice up its story with outsized caricatures or inflated dramas. Not that there’s much opportunity for such things with an arc that stretches out over a year and tracks the ups and downs of people who get excited over the effect El Nio will have on migratory patterns. Instead, the film delves into pop psych questions about quality of life and the pursuit of happiness, with uneven results that are sometimes achingly on the nose — Brad points out in voiceover that Stu’s starting to confront his own mortality, though how he knows this is cause for speculation — and other times startlingly grounded, as in the fights Kenny has with his wife, who loves him but has begun to accept he’s simply not going to be there when she needs him. The Big Year is going to disappoint anyone who shows up in search of slapstick and goofy hijinks, which is probably most of the potential audience, given the draw of the aforementioned cast (which also includes Tim Blake Nelson, Anthony Anderson, Anjelica Huston, Jim Parsons and Rashida Jones as Brad’s inevitable fellow birder crush) and a trailer that gathers up everything in the film that could remotely be construed as a pratfall. The Big Year isn’t enough of a success to cause anyone to seriously mourn this fact, but it does seem unfair that the picture is bound to suffer for not meeting these expectations when its aims are so completely different. In its depiction of birding and of a contest with no prize outside of recognition within a small community, The Big Year actually explores, though not deeply, success and competition and their meaning on a larger life scale. The drive that some of these characters have to be on top, whether in work or in their chosen calling, interferes with their day-to-day happiness, while another is denigrated for his lack of traditional accomplishments and his dedication to such an unconventional choice of hobby, despite the pleasure it brings him. Wispy-slight as it may be, The Big Year deserves props for these gentle, minor philosophical explorations — though any film that involves a character fecklessly maxing out credit cards in our current economic reality, all dreams and aspirations aside, could do with a little added introspection.

'The X Factor' Schedule Changes: Wednesday's Episode Canceled

Ray Mickshaw / FOX Well, it seems appropriate that Rihanna has a hit song titled "Umbrella." She was to debut as a guest mentor on Wednesday's episode of The X Factor featuring the judges' homes, but Fox just announced it's pulling tonight's airing due to a rainy day. PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes: THR's 'X Factor' Cover Shoot Apparently, rain has delayed Game 4 of the American League Championship Series a couple hours. So, the network has decided to air Wednesday's episode on Thursday at 8 p.m. And Thursday's episode will now air on Sunday at 8 p.m. That stands for both the East and West Coast airings. The show will return to its previous schedule with an episode next Tuesday at 8 p.m. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED: THR COVER STORY: What the X Is This All About? 'The X Factor' Vs. 'American Idol:' Who's Leading the Battle for Talent Show Supremacy (Analysis) THR's Complete 'X Factor' Coverage Fox Broadcasting Corporation The X Factor

TV Land Orders Potential Hot In Cleveland Spinoff With Cedric The Entertainer To Pilot

TV Land’s proposed Hot In Cleveland spinoff starring Cedric the Entertainer is moving one step closer to reality with a pilot order. The pilot order was somewhat surprising given that Cedric’s minister character was introduced on an episode of Hot In Cleveland that aired in August. Written by Hot In Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin, the episode had been perceived as a backdoor pilot for a potential spinoff series starring Cedric. Now the project also is going through a traditional pilot process. The potential spinoff follows Cedric’s character Reverend Boyce as he moves to Cedric’s hometown of St. Louis and has to balance his wild past with the expectations of his congregation and his family. Martin and Cedric wrote the pilot and are executive producing with Hazy Mills’ Sean Hayes and Tod Milliner, who also executive produce Hot In Cleveland. Production is slated to begin on Dec. 2.

'Arrested Development:' 5 Things to Know About the Series' Potential Return

Over the weekend, news broke that cult series Arrested Development might return to air. The Hollywood Reporter breaks down how the story started, what the stars of the show are saying and the roadblocks that could keep it off the air.our editor recommends'Arrested Development' Actor Exits Broadway's 'La Cage aux Folles''Arrested Development' film gets closer'Arrested Development' Stars Confirm Plans for Show's TV Return 1. Creator Mitch Hurwitz teased the possibility of a nine or 10 "mini-season" at the NYer Festival on Sunday. The short-lived series starred Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor. PHOTOS: Best and Worst TV Dads: 'Modern Family,' 'Shameless,' 'The Simpsons' 2. Bateman then confirmed the news on Twitter Sunday afternoon. "We will do 10 episodes and the movie. Probably shoot them all together next summer for a release in early '13." Arnett also confirmed the news online, writing: "I'm peeing with @batemanjason at the moment..and we can confirm that we are going to make new AD eps and a movie." PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Will 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Whitney' or 'How to Be a Gentleman' Be Axed First? 3. There could be issues with scheduling. Arnett appears opposite Christina Applegate on NBC's Up All Night. Both Cera and Bateman have two movies in the works. Hurtwitz hinted at the festival that each episode will center around a different character from the series so that they aren't required to be on set as often. 4. Will Fox network execs greenlight it? The show has a devoted -- but small -- audience. It was canceled in 2006 after just three seasons on air, despite winning six Emmys. 20th Century Fox TV declined comment Sunday. PHOTOS: Fall TV's 12 Most Anticipated Shows 5. A reunion or movie has been in the works for a long time. In 2008, Hurwitz and Ron Howard reportedly closed a deal for a movie from Imagine and Fox Searchlight. Bateman and Arnett helped fuel the news of this online, but the movie nhas not yet happened. Related Topics Jason Bateman Will Arnett 5 Things You Didn't Know