• Scarlett Johansson hammered Hercules at the weekend box office. Her new science-fiction thriller, Lucy, was No. 1 at North American movie theaters, taking in an estimated $44 million. Lucy, which Universal Pictures marketed squarely on Johansson's shoulders, cost about $40 million to make and was directed by Luc Besson. The film performed particularly well in theaters with screens marketed as Premium Large Format, which charge higher prices. Hercules, which cost Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about $100 million to make, sold an estimated $29 million in tickets, according to Rentrak, which compiles box-office data. This latest cinematic take on the Greek demigod -- starring Dwayne Johnson and directed by Brett Ratner -- raised entertainment industry eyebrows by receiving a PG-13 rating despite its depictions of visceral violence. Paramount and MGM expect Hercules to make most of its money overseas, where Johnson has a significant following. Paramount said Sunday that Hercules took in an additional $28.7 million over the weekend in 26 foreign markets. Third place went to the 20th Century Fox sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, which took in about $16.4 million, for a three-week domestic total of $172.1 million.
• The Ant-Man cast is set. Paul Rudd was previously revealed as the tiny title superhero. And at Marvel's Comic-Con panel Saturday in San Diego, Evangeline Lilly confirmed she'll play Hope Pym. Michael Douglas plays her dad, Dr. Hank Pym. And Corey Stoll is set to play the villain Darren Cross, also known as Yellowjacket. Rudd called the role "a mind-bender." Douglas said he'd long looked at Marvel films "from afar with tremendous envy" and was excited to join the comic-based world. Director Peyton Reed, who took over for Edgar Wright after he exited over creative issues, has been going to Comic-Con for 20 years and been an Ant-Man fan for even longer. Rudd confessed in an interview after the panel that Wright's departure was "a bit intense" for the cast. "It undoubtedly hit some speed bumps," Rudd said. "I'm just thrilled that we're at where we're at now. ... And I know it will continue to evolve." Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said production of the film, due in theaters next summer, is to begin in two weeks.
A Section on 07/29/2014