'Rock of Ages,' 'That's My Boy' no match for holdovers

This weekend's two wide releases both tanked, failing to unseat either of last week's debuts.

"Rock of Ages" had to settle for third.

"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" remained at the top, dropping only 41 percent from its opening tally with $35.5 million. It's 10 days total now sits at $120 million.

Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" also held onto its number two position, picking up $20 million (a drop of 60 percent) for a total of $88 million.

The musical adaptation of "Rock of Ages," featuring an ensemble cast led by Tom Cruise, had to settle for third place with $15 million. The musical was made for $75 million.

"Snow White and the Huntsman" fell one spot from last week, grossing $13.8 million for a three week total of $122 million.

Adam Sandler's latest comedy "That's My Boy" rounded out the top five in its debut, picking up $13 million on a budget of $70 million.

Meanwhile, Marvel's "The Avengers" continues to close in on $600 million, grossing $8.8 million in its seveth weekend for a domestic total of $586 million.

The only film to see a week-to-week increase in its returns was Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," which is continuing its slow expansion, adding 82 theaters this weekend and taking home $2.1 million for a total of $6.7 million.


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

1. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $60.3 million (Total: $120.4 million)
2. "Prometheus," $50 million (Total: $88.8 million)
3. "Rock of Ages," $15 million (New)
4. "Snow White and the Huntsman," $13.8 million (Total: $122.6 million)
5. "That's My Boy," $13 million (New) 
6. "MIB 3," $10 million (Total: $152.6 million)
7. "Marvel's The Avengers," $8.8 million (Total: $586.7 million)
8. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $2.2 million (Total: $35.1 million)
9. "Moonrise Kingdom," $2.1 million (Total: $6.7 million)
10. "What to Expect When You're Expecting," $1.3 million (Total: $38.7 million)

Ray Winstone to set sail with 'Noah'?

Actor Ray Winstone is the latest to consider taking a trip with director Darren Aronofsky's "Noah."

Ray Winstone

Deadline is reporting that the actor is in negotiations to play the role of the main antagonist to Noah, who will be played by Russell Crowe ("Gladiator").

The film tells the Biblical tale of Noah, who was directed by God to create a giant ark to save two of every animal before a great flood wiped the Earth clean.

Last week, it was reported that "Harry Potter" actress Emma Watson was in talks to join the cast as Ila, a woman who is involved with Noah's son Shem, portrayed by Douglas Booth ("The Pillars of the Earth" and the forthcoming "Romeo and Juliet").

Logan Lerman ("Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighning Thief") is also attached as Noah's other son Ham.

This will be Aronofsky's followup to his Academy Award-nominated films "Black Swan" and "The Wrestler."

Winstone was most recently seen in "Snow White and the Huntsman," in which he played Gorth, one of the seven dwarfs. His resume also includes roles in "Hugo," "The Departed" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

Chris Hemsworth attached to 'The Heart of the Sea'

Actor Chris Hemsworth is reportedly attached to "The Heart of the Sea," based on the real-life events that were the inspiration for Herman Meville's "Moby Dick."

The story inspired "Moby Dick."

According to Deadline, no studio has signed the project as yet, but several are giving it a look, including Dreamworks.

The movie, if it happens, would be based on the Nathaniel Philbrick's National Book Award-winning work "The Heart of the Sea," which follows the real-life story of the whaling ship Essex destroyed by a sperm whale in 1820.

Deadine is reporting that the project's producers include Joe Roth, Paula Weinstein, Will Ward and Palek Patel, and the script was written by Charles Leavitt ("Blood Diamond").

Philbrick's website offers a more detailed synopsis of the story:

The ordeal of the whaleship Essex was an event as mythic in the nineteenth century as the sinking of the Titanic was in the twentieth. In 1819, the Essex left Nantucket for the South Pacific with twenty crew members aboard. In the middle of the South Pacific the ship was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale. The crew drifted for more than ninety days in three tiny whaleboats, succumbing to weather, hunger, disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival.

Hemsworth was most recently seen in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and is expected to begin filming next month on "Thor 2," reprising his title role, which is also portrayed in this summer's "The Avengers."

In "The Heart of the Sea," Hemsworth would play the ship's first mate.

'Madagascar' ecapes from 'Prometheus' to earn top spot at weekend box office

Two new movies left their mark at the domestic box office this weekend with the animated "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" topping Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" $60 million to $50 million.

The film grossed $60 million.

For the former, the receipts were down slightly from 2009's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which earned $63 million on a much less crowded February weekend. That film went on to gross $180 million domestically and $423 million worldwide.

As for "Prometheus," the sci-fi thriller's $50 million was the fourth highest opening weekend ever to not land in the top spot behind "The Day After Tomorrow," "Sherlock Holmes" and "Wanted." Compared to the "Alien" films, it is by far the highest opening weekend, but since the last film hit theaters 15 years ago, it's not exactly a fair comparison (that's leaving out the "AVP" films, but "Prometheus" dominated them as well).

Last week's number one, "Snow White and the Huntsman," fell to third with $23 million, a 59 percent drop from its debut. It has held up solidly overseas, and the film has grossed $182 million worldwide to date on a reported budget of $170 million (excluding marketing). That should make Universal feel better about its decision to pursue a sequel to the fairy tale film.

"MIB 3" earned $13.5 million for a total of $135 million in domestic markets, but it's done much better overseas, grossing $352 million for a worldwide total of $487 million. The film reported cost $225 million.

Rounding out the top five was Marvel's "The Avengers," which continued to pad its position as third on the all-time domestic and worldwide lists with another $10.8 million over the weekend. It's totals now stand at $571 million domestically and $1.39 billion worldwide. It trails only "Titanic" and "Avatar" on both lists.

Also worth noting is director Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," which has been turning heads by grossing massive amounts of money in only a handful of screens. It expanded slightly this weekend to 96 theaters, where it grossed $1.5 million, good enough to crack the top 10.

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

1. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $60.3 million (New)
2. "Prometheus," $50 million (New)
3. "Snow White and the Huntsman," $23 million (Total: $98.5 million)
4. "MIB 3," $13.5 million (Total: $135.5 million)
5. "Marvel's The Avengers," $10.8 million (Total: $571.8 million)
6. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $3.2 million (Total: $31 million)
7. "What to Expect When You're Expecting," $2.7 million (Total: $35.7 million)
8. "Battleship," $2.2 million (Total: $59.8 million) 
9. "The Dictator," $2.1 million (Total: $55.1 million)
10. "Moonrise Kingdom," $1.5 million (Total: $3.7 million)

'Snow White and the Huntsman' sequel in the works

Universal is looking to build on  the solid opening weekend for its "Snow White and the Huntsman," laying the groundwork for a sequel.

The film has earned $129 million to date.

According to Deadline, screenwriter David Koepp ("Jurassic Park," "Spider-Man") has been tapped to pen a script for the sequel.

While Koepp was not involved in the original, Universal is reportedly not looking far for its director, talking to Rupert Sanders, who made his directorial debut with "Snow White," to secure his return.

The film, which starred Kristen Stewart ("Twilight") and Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") in the title roles along with Charlize Theron as the evil queen, grossed $56 million in its opening weekend and $82.9 million to date. It's worldwide gross tops $129 million, but it has a ways to go to reach its reported budget of $170 million.

Deadline is reporting that Sanders is not under contract for any sequels, while the actors have options for two.

Koepp has written a number of blockbusters in his career, including "Mission: Impossible," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "War of the Worlds" and "Angels & Demons."

Saoirse Ronan in talks to join 'Order of Seven'

Actress Saoirse Ronan is in talks to return to the action genre with a starring role in Disney's "Order of Seven."

Saoirse Ronan

According to Variety, the film was originally created to be a kung fu version of "Snow White in the Seven Dwarfs." With two other Snow White movies--Relativity's "Mirror Mirror" and Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman"--coming out this year alone, the film has removed its ties to the fairy tale.

Ronan would play Olivia Sinclair, a 19th century British ex-patriot in Hong Kong who seeks the protection of an ancient group of warriors--who have now become outlaws.

Michael Gracey is set to make his feature directorial debut with the picture. The script was last touched by Jayson Rothwell and Michael DeBruyn, who worked off of Michael Chabon's original screenplay, which was written when the film still had ties to Snow White.

The film has been in the works since 2002 and has gone through a number of directors over that time. Production is set to start in the fall.

Ronan's recent work includes 2011's thriller "Hanna," in which she played an assassin out for revenge. She was 13 when she was nominated in 2008 for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in "Atonement."