'Chronicle' writer Max Landis not involved with sequel

"Chronicle" scribe Max Landis is no longer involved with 21st Century Fox's planned sequel to the found-footage take on the superpowers genre.

"Chronicle" was released in Jan. 2012.

As Comingsoon.net reports, Landis posted on Twitter that he has not been involved with the project for months, adding that "Chronicle" director Josh Trank, who has been tapped for the upcoming "Fantastic Four" reboot, was never attached to the sequel.

"I've been off Chronicle 2 for months now. Fox had a different direction they wanted to take the series, Josh was never attached," Landis said.

"Ultimately, I'm just very grateful to Fox for making a film as close to my original script as Chronicle was. For making the film at all. So yeah it's sad that as of right now I'm not involved in the sequel, and don't know what it's about even, but ultimately I can't complain.

"Chronicle 2 is still probably happening, just not with my involvement as of now. It's a bummer, but there are no real hard feelings. They hired new writers on it. I'm sure they'll announce soon. Just hope this answers the questions I've been getting everyday."

"Chronicle" followed three teens who gain superpowers after making contact with a strange object underground. The film, which was made on a $12 million budget, went on to gross $64 million domestically and another $62 million in foreign markets.

'The Vow,' 'Safe House' lead record-breaking box office weekend

Romantic drama "The Vow" and the action thriller "Safe House" led the charge for a record-breaking weekend at the box office in which four films debuted with $20 million or more for the first time ever during a non-holiday weekend.

"The Vow" earned $41.7 million.

Additionally, if studio estimates hold up, "The Vow" and "Safe House" will be able to claim the sixth and 12th highest February openings respectively.

Starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, "The Vow" grossed $41.7 million, well above its reported $30 million budget. In a close second was "Safe House," featuring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, which took home $39.3 million, about half of its $80 million budget.

Dwayne Johnson's "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" was in third place with $27.5 million. The film is riding ahead of its predecessor, 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which debuted with $21 million. That film, which starred Brendan Fraser, went on to gross $101 million domestically and another $140 million in foreign markets. The sequel has a ways to go to make back its $79 million budget, but a strong early showing overseas, where the film has already earned $41 million, will help.

Meanwhile, George Lucas' odyssey to re-release his famous franchise in 3D began this weekend with "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," which had to settle for fourth place with $23 million. While it was good enough to set the record, it was barely a third of what the film did during its first release in February 2000. As for 3D re-releases, "Phantom Menace" finds itself in between "The Lion King," whose re-release boasted an opening weekend of $30 million, and "Beauty and the Beast," which earned $17.7 million in its first weekend back in theaters.

Rounding out the top five was last week's champ "Chronicle," which dropped 44 percent to $12.3 million. The film has grossed $40.1 million in two weeks, nearly quadrupling its $12 million budget.

"The Descendents" is continuing to have solid business, dropping one place to ninth with $3.5 million and a total of $70.7 million. It is currently the fourth highest grossing film among the nine Academy Award Best Picture nominees and it could find itself in second place by the time the Oscars air in two weeks. "The Help" remains the clear winner (money-wise, at least) in that category with $169 million, following by "War Horse" with $78 million and "Moneyball" with $75 million.

The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:

1. "The Vow," $41.7 million (New)
2. "Safe House," $39.3 million (New)
3. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $27.5 million (New)
4. "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)," $23 million (New)
5. "Chronicle," $12.3 million (Total: $40.1 million)
6. "The Woman in Black," $10.3 million (Total: $35.4 million)
7. "The Grey," $5 million (Total: $42.8 million)
8. "Big Miracle," $3.9 million (Total: $13.2 million) 
9. "The Descendants," $3.5 million (Total: $70.7 million)
10. "Underworld Awakening," $2.5 million (Total: $58.9 million)

'Chronicle' flies over Harry Potter to take weekend box office crown

The found-footage style film "Chronicle" narrowly beat out fellow newcomer "The Woman in Black" to lay claim to first place at the box office for what was a surprisingly strong February weekend.

"Chronicle" earned $22 million.

The low budget "Chronicle," which follows three teens who gain superpowers, earned $22 million over the weekend, almost double its reported budget of $12 million.

Meanwhile, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe tried his hand at the horror genre with "The Woman in Black," which grossed $21 million for a respectable second place finish.

Last weekend's champ "The Grey," dropped 51 percent in its second weekend with $9.5 million and third place. Over two weeks, the $25 million picture has earned $34.7 million.

The Drew Barrymore-starring film "Big Miracle," inspired by a real-life whale rescue in Alaska, trailed its competitors with only $8.5 million in its first weekend. The movie has a reported budget of $40 million.

Rounding out the top five was "Underworld Awakening," which earned $5.6 million for a three week total of $54 million. The fourth film in the franchise was made for a reported $70 million.


The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:

1. "Chronicle," $22 million (New)
2. "The Woman in Black," $21 million (New)
3. "The Grey," $9.5 million (Total: $34.7 million)
4. "Big Miracle," $8.5 million (New)
5. "Underworld Awakening," $5.6 million (Total: $54.3 million)
6. "One for the Money," $5.2 million (Total: $19.6 million)
7. "Red Tails," $5 million (Total: $41.3 million)
8. "The Descendants," $4.6 million (Total: $65.5 million)
9. "Man on a Ledge," $4.5 million (Total: $14.7 million)
10. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," $3.9 million (Total: $26.7 million)