Patty Jenkins to direct 'Wonder Woman' 2019 sequel: reports

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Patty Jenkins will return to direct the 2019 sequel to this year’s hit superhero movie “Wonder Woman,” film trade publications said on Monday, after she became the highest-grossing female director in Hollywood history.

Jenkins, 46, will once again direct Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the titular superhero in “Wonder Woman 2,” scheduled for release on Dec. 13, 2019, publications including Variety and Hollywood Reporter said.

Movie studio Warner Bros did not comment on the news and has not given any further details on the sequel.

“Wonder Woman,” was the first standalone movie to star a female superhero since 2005’s box office dud “Elektra,” and the first to be directed by a woman.

It rode to the top of the box office in June on a wave of good reviews and female empowerment, and with $816.4 million at the worldwide box office, it is now the second-biggest movie of the year after the live action version of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Jenkins overtook Phyllida Lloyd, who directed 2008’s musical “Mamma Mia!,” for the title of highest-grossing female director.

Gadot’s Wonder Woman will next be seen in November’s superhero ensemble movie “Justice League,” alongside Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman.

“Wonder Woman,” the fourth film in Warner Bros’ current iteration of DC Comics’ cinematic franchise, helped boost profits for Warner Bros’ parent company Time Warner Inc.

Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Sandra Maler

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Iron Man' beats 'minions', Katniss in 2013

HOLLYWOOD - It was a golden year for Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man 3, which earned the distinction as the top grossing film of 2013.

The comic book hero franchise took in $1.2 billion worldwide - according to Box Office Mojo - as movie fans flocked to theaters to see Downey Jr. reprise his role as billionaire entrepreneur Tony Stark.

Checking in at the No. 2 spot was "Despicable Me 2," the animated comedy that scored very well over the summer with ticket sale of close to 920 million.

Hollywood's golden girl, Jennifer Lawrence added to her box office resume with "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," which made 795 million globally. The sequel to the original film, which made Lawrence a star, played equally well home and abroad.

Rounding out the top four for the year was the always reliable car franchise, "Fast & Furious 6," powering its way to nearly 790 million dollars with an action packed cast that included Vin Diesel, The Rock and the late Paul Walker, who's untimely passing from from a tragic car crash in 2013 has delayed the release of "Fast & Furious 7."

It's worth noting that the 8 out the year's top 10 films are sequels.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com