Morning Deal Report: Burning Diesel and Kerosene

Posted by Scott Von Doviak

The Coen Brothers have visited some strange places with their movies, but the top of the weekend box office charts may be the most unexpected of all. Yet there’s Burn After Reading, edging out Tyler Perry’s latest grotesquerie for the top spot with $19.4 million. I thought it was minor Coen myself, but that’s a discussion for another day. The Perry faithful turned out for the odious The Family That Preys to the tune of $18 million, and enough folks were curious to see De Niro and Pacino Together Again For The First Time to nudge Righteous Kill into third place with $16.5 million. Women did not turn out for The Women, which barely cracked the $10 million mark.

From the You’ve Gotta Be Shitting Me file comes news that another XXX sequel is in the works. Columbia Pictures is “in discussions with producer Joe Roth for a new version of XXX, one that would bring back Vin Diesel as star and Rob Cohen as director.” As you may recall, the last XXX sequel actually starred Ice Cube, but apparently Diesel’s pricetag has gone down. Then there’s this tidbit from Variety: “Diesel also bowed out of a starring role in the first sequel to The Fast and the Furious — 2 Fast 2 Furious — opting for a cameo in that pic. He skipped the third pic, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, but will reteam with original co-star Paul Walker in the franchise’s fourth go-round, Fast & Furious, which Universal will release June 12.” If there’s a fifth movie, they’ll just call it Fastious.

The Kerosene Cowboys are set to ride for director Mario Van Peebles. “Based on a novel by Randy Arrington, the tale follows the rough-riding and hard-living pilots of an elite Navy attack squadron,” says The Hollywood Reporter. Cam Gigandet, Shane West and Rachael Leigh Cook are set to star. I’ve never heard of two of those people, but I’m just passing the info along to those of you who have.

Related:
Hair Today, Coen Tomorrow
Freddy and the Furious Go to Cloverfield

+ DIGG

+ DEL.ICIO.US

+ REDDIT

Posted Sep 15 2008, 10:30 AM

Filed under: morning deal report, coen brothers, tyler perry, robert de niro, scott von doviak, ice cube, al pacino, righteous kill, vin diesel, the fast and the furious, burn after reading, mario van peebles, the family that preys, xxx, fast & furious, rachael leigh cook, rob cohen, 2 fast 2 furious, kerosene cowboys

Comments

Tania Spearman said:

My young son and I recently met Randy Arrington at a book signing in San Diego. I must confess that this soon-to-be celebrity author was a real pleasure to speak with. Not something I was expecting from a former Navy pilot who used to land jets on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier at night. Arrington is a stunningly handsome man, but likewise he is a very down to earth human being who is obviously quite at ease while interacting with the general public. His sense of humility about the success of his book and the upcoming movie based on his novel was, in a word, refreshing and I am glad my son was there to witness his demeanor. I highly recommend picking up a copy of his novel “Kerosene Cowboys: Manning the Spare.” It is simply a brilliant and extremely entertaining piece of contemporary writing. My son Derek and I can’t wait to see the movie and all of Arrington’s incredible characters up on the silver screen.

September 30, 2008 11:44 AM