Movie News Monday for July 14, 2014.

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)

What is ‘MNM’ all about?

In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit on Mondays for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!

This Just In!!…

#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, the box office arena welcomed 1 major new wide release with the spotlight shining on the DAWN. And it was the Dawn that outshone all other contenders for the top spot, including Transformers 4 that had the strongest debut weekend of the year. This past weekend the Top Ten said goodbye to Edge of Tomorrow (13) and Think Like a Man Too (11) but did see Transformers 4 pass the $200M mark.

Here are the weekend’s results for Fri, July 11-Sun, July 13:

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ~$73M
Transformers: Age of Extinction ~$16.5M
Tammy ~$12.9M
22 Jump Street ~$6.7M
How To Train Your Dragon 2 ~$5.9M
Earth to Echo ~$5.5M
Deliver Us From Evil ~$4.7M
Maleficent ~$4.2M
Begin Again ~$2.9M
Jersey Boys ~$2.5M

Congratulations to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (My review)

What did YOU watch this weekend?

#2- “Spider-Man Scriptwriter Swings Away” Roberto Orci, screenwriter for films such as Transformers, Star Trek, Mission Impossible III, The Island and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, was previously set to write the script for not only the next two Amazing Spider-Man films, but also the expected Venom and Sinister Six spin-offs. That WAS the plan, reportedly, until this past week.

When discussing Sony’s plans for the franchise, here’s what Orci had to say:

“I don’t know what their plans are for that franchise. I don’t ever want to say never, but we have to figure out what their scheduling is in terms of when they want each movie. I’ve read probably as much as anyone else. There’s a love for the Sinister Six, the idea of Venom — there’s an idea of Spider-Man’s going to be one of these characters that’s part of our business. He’s such a popular character. Spider-Man’s not going to go away any time soon. When it all happens and how and all that has yet to be determined.”

It seems as though he may be referencing that his schedule with writing/direction Star Trek 3 and the schedule that Sony wanted to do with a Spider-Man movie every year is too complex. Orci stated that he is “not officially involved” in the upcoming sequel.

Perhaps Sony should just go ahead and do what the fans want already…give Spider-Man back to Marvel! The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was the lowest grossing of all 5 Spider-man films (though definitely not the worst of them). Is the franchise doomed?

What are your thoughts?

#3- “Mission Impossible 5 Casting Update.” The Tom Cruise-led franchise continues and the casting for the next to follow the impressive sequel that was Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is shaping up. Mission Impossible 5 has already confirmed the return of Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg to star and Paula Patton is expected to be in the film as well. Here are the latest two additions to the impossible cast:

Alec Baldwin as the head of the CIA.

Rebecca Ferguson as the female lead.

While Baldwin may need no introduction, a few may recognize Golden Globe nominee Rebecca Ferguson from her work on BBC’s “The White Queen.” She can be see next in Dwayne Johnson’s July 25th release Hercules. No other information has been released as to what expect from these two in their roles, but the mission is coming together nicely.

Are you looking forward to the next mission?

#4- “Coen’s Hail Caesar may Hire Scarlett.” Scarlett Johansson and Jonah Hill are both looking at roles to join the Coen Brother’s upcoming film Hail Caesar.

I reported on Hail Caesar previously (HERE), but the general quick synopsis from comingsoon.net is that it “follows a man named Eddie Mannix in his job as a Hollywood fixer in the 1950s.” Apparently, Johansson is set to play as an actress in Hollywood who gets pregnant right before a major motion picture which she has been cast for begins.

Johansson herself is currently with child and this role seems appropriate.

Johansson, and possibly Jonah Hill, will join George Clooney, Channing Tatum, Ralph Fiennes, Josh Brolin and Tilda Swinton in this time period comedy that George Clooney as referred to as the “conclusion of his ‘idiot trilogy’” following O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Intolerable Cruelty.

Look for more on the Coen project as it develops. You can see Scarlett Johansson in Chef, currently in theaters, and next in Lucy which releases July 25.

Are you ready a fan of the Coen Brothers?

#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” Here’s what blu-ray.com shows:

My pick of the week out of the NEW releases is…well, I can’t pick. I’ve seen none of them, but I want to check out Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson. So, we’ll see. How about you?

Which will you pick up?