Spike Jonze News

Estimated Weekend Movie Box Office: October 16 - October 18, 2009

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed with the upcoming feature film WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE to launch Be Out ThereTM, a national campaign to get families and kids to spend daily time outdoors for their health, happiness, and well-being. Directed by Spike Jonze and based on Maurice Sendak's classic book, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is an adventure for every generation in the story of a young boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to the island of the Wild Things. As an education partner for the film, the National Wildlife Federation shows kids how they can escape into nature and learn about the wild things wherever they live.

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed with the upcoming feature film Where the Wild Things Are, to launch Be Out ThereTM, a national campaign to get families and kids to spend daily time outdoors for their health, happiness and well-being. Directed by Spike Jonze and based on Maurice Sendak's classic book, Where the Wild Things Are is an adventure for every generation, the story of a young boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to the island of the Wild Things. As an education partner for the film, National Wildlife Federation shows kids how they can escape into nature and learn about the wild things wherever they live.

Variety is reporting that Paul Dano will team up with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in a new, yet-to-be-named action comedy, formerly titled 'Wichita.' Filming begins in Boston in October.

MTV turned New York City inside out for the '2009 Video Music Awards' as the network celebrated a legend and brought together the biggest names in music, TV, film and sports. Live from Radio City Music Hall, VMA icon Madonna opened the show and introduced the emotional and heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson. Janet Jackson was joined onstage by the most renowned choreographers in the world and Michael's tour dancers, all of whom were influenced by the 'King of Pop,' for a memorable and high energy performance. To honor her brother and his illustrious career, the dancers recreated some of his most memorable music videos including 'Thriller,' 'Bad,' 'Smooth Criminal' and 'Scream.' The celebration received a standing ovation and set the tone for the most important evening in music and pop culture.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced today that the 2010 Spirit Awards will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010, and will air live and uncut at 8:00 p.m. PST/11:00 p.m. EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel). The nominations press conference will take place on Tuesday, December 1.

Academy? Award-winners Geoffrey Rush (Shine) as King Berenger and Susan Sarandon (Dead Men Walking) as Queen Marguerite will star in Eugene Ionesco's EXIT THE KING on Broadway. This production marks Rush's Broadway debut. Translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, EXIT THE KING will begin performances Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) and open on Thursday, March 26, 2009. This limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only, through Sunday, June 14, 2009.

Academy? Award-winners Geoffrey Rush (Shine) as King Berenger and Susan Sarandon (Dead Men Walking) as Queen Marguerite will star in Eugene Ionesco's EXIT THE KING on Broadway. This production marks Rush's Broadway debut. Translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, EXIT THE KING will begin performances Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) and open on Thursday, March 26, 2009. This limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only, through Sunday, June 14, 2009.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, has set its official opening night for Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen.

Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Lauren Ambrose (Awake and Sing!, 'Six Feet Under') and Tony? Award- winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year, Young Frankenstein) will star in Eugene Ionesco's EXIT THE KING, joining the previously announced Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon. Translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, EXIT THE KING will begin performances Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) and open on Thursday, March 26, 2009. This limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only, through Sunday, June 14, 2009. Additional casting will be announced soon. EXIT THE KING is a hilarious and poignant comedy about a megalomaniacal ruler, King Berenger (Rush) whose incompetence has left his country in near ruin. Despite the efforts of Queen Marguerite (Sarandon) and the other members of the court to convince the King he has only 90 minutes left to live, he refuses to relinquish any control.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, has set its official opening night for Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen.

Acclaimed film and stage actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard have joined the cast of Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, and directed by Austin Pendleton, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen. UNCLE VANYA will begin previews on Saturday, January 17 at Classic Stage Company at 136 East 13th Street. An official press opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. UNCLE VANYA will play a limited engagement through March 1, 2009.

Production begins in Connecticut this week on an untitled contemporary comedy directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The film is being produced and co-financed by Big Beach, with Focus Features co-financing and distributing worldwide.

Kenneth Branagh will direct Sean Foley and Hamish McColl's 'comedy spectacular' Ducktastic, which will open in London on October 17th

Sean Foley And Hamish McColl Star In 'Ducktastic' In London

New York Stage & Film and Vassar have completed casting for the new workshop production of DEFIANCE (formerly called CHAIN OF COMMAND) to be presented July 29, 30 and 31 at Vassar College.