Star-studded supervillain movie “Suicide Squad” looks set to save the summer box office by opening to record numbers this weekend.
According to pre-release tracking, the Warner Bros. comic book film is set to open with as much as $125 million – shattering the previous record August opening of $94.3 million set by “Guardians of the Galaxy” two years ago.
“Watch out, we’re gonna kill it,” said director David Ayer when discussing the new franchise’s earning potential at Comic-Con just over a week ago.
Blockbuster hits have been in short supply lately. Total domestic grosses this summer are well behind last year’s record pace with the current total of $2.6 billion not on target to beat 2015’s $4.5 billion summer tally.
The action film, starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto, revolves around villains on death row for their crimes until a shadowy government agency assigns them dangerous missions in return for clemency.
Alex Edghill of boxofficepro said, “The film has dominated the social media charts for months and the Warner Bros. marketing strategy of constant engagement with fans via all channels has worked wonders for its awareness.”
Rocket Man
Being one of Hollywood’s leading stuntmen in film franchises such as “Transformers” and “Avengers” isn’t enough for Eddie Braun. He wants to be the very best in the business.
In order to achieve that, the Manhattan Beach-based daredevil is planning to pull off the ultimate stunt before he retires – one that even his idol Evel Knievel failed to achieve.
Next month he will attempt to jump Idaho’s Snake River Canyon in a 10,000-horsepower rocket, the same stunt which almost killed Knievel in 1974.
Braun, 54, is busy pre-selling the livestreaming to the Sept. 17 event and hopes to live to spend the proceeds.
“If I make it, the feeling of self-accomplishment will be something that lasts me a lifetime,” he said. “Should things not turn out too well, my friend Charlie Sheen is looking into buying a $20 million life insurance policy as a gift for my children.”
Braun has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the effort and had raised $33,000 of a $150,000 goal a few days after the campaign launched.
“This has never been about money and profit, it’s about finishing the dream of my hero,” added Eddie, who has built his steam-powered rocket from the spare parts and plans for Knievel’s original.
If all goes well, superheated steam will produce 6,000 pounds of thrust and 10,000 horsepower to propel the rocket to 400 mph and an altitude of 3,000 feet in three seconds. After 4.5 seconds, the engine will cut off and Eddie will deploy the parachute bringing him and his craft safely back to earth. Evil Knievel’s attempt failed when the parachute opened too early.
Wee Problem
Ozzy Osbourne’s eccentric history came back to haunt him when filming his new TV travel show.
Producers of “Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour” were prevented from letting the Beverly Hills-based rocker film at the Alamo because he had notoriously urinated on a historical landmark there during a previous visit.
Calls to City of San Antonio officials and the state parks agency only resulted in the concession that the History channel could film him outside, but still not within, for an episode where Ozzy and his son Jack Osbourne tour Texas landmarks.
Ozzy was arrested in 1982 for public urination and intoxication after relieving himself on the Alamo Cenotaph, a 60-foot high statue honoring the 189 Texans who died there.
Fatherly Advice
Joe Simpson, who built the showbiz careers of daughters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, is launching a new business showing other parents how to do the same for their kids.
The Malibu-based manager plans to give mentorship classes around the country for those looking to turn their children into showbiz stars. Business tips and performance skills will be part of his program.
Saved by Sharks
Former “Beverly Hills 90210” star Ian Ziering thought his career would be ended by starring in cheesy TV movie “Sharknado.” Now he says the project revived it.
Three years and three sequels later, with a fifth Sharknado film on the way, the Syfy channel franchise made by Burbank’s Asylum is a cult hit.
“They lied to me on the first one, telling me it was called ‘Dark Skies.’ I’d never have opened a script called ‘Sharknado.’ When I found out the real title, I wanted to change my name in the credits. I thought it would be the end of my career. I just hoped the check would clear,” he said.
“But it turned out to be something people loved with a huge global following on social media. Even Mia Farrow has tweeted about it. To be part of a project that touches people is amazing.”
Managing editor Sandro Monetti can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 200.
