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EXCLUSIVE: I’m told that CAA, UTA, and WME were in a feeding frenzy for the Oscar-winning actress, who has long been with manager J.J. Harris and didn’t have an agent. She’s one of the few Hollywood female stars who in the right vehicle could open a movie.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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“And that movie would be…?
Comment by Tom — July 3, 2009 @ 2:22 pm”
One co-starring Depp, Leo or Cruise of course.
On what planet can Charlize open a movie?
A more accurate statement would be “in the right vehicle she can get critically favorable reviews”.
Charlize has shown that she’s talented enough to move beyond her frequently crappy movies and hit the critical mark. But opening? Ha ha ha.
On that note, as far as the ladies go i don’t see anyone who can open at all. Come on, this is 2009, not 1999.
Classy actress. Hot agency. The tide is turning.
@Hacky, you’re wrong bro. I offer Seven Pounds as an example that any Will Smith movie will make good money. Put any other actor in it and it makes $40mill. Will Smith? $165mill.
Smith could star in a movie as a gay rodeo clown with X-ray vision that saves the world from a killer gnat, and it would open. But he is the only actor you can say that about these days. Really.
To What -
So you’re saying if Brad, Denzel or Tom (Hanks) was in Seven Pounds that it would have only made $40 mil? And that Will Smith could open a movie if he played a gay rodeo clown with X-ray vision that saves the world from a killer gnat?
Hmmmm…interesting. I have a variety of choices to spend my entertainment dollar and, personally, I could give a crap on who is in a movie. If the story looks good, I’ll go. The Hangover is a good example of that.
And I think Charlize is gorgeous but I’m not going to spend any money on her unless the movie itself is good.
Bottom line is that the movie going public are not sheep. Actors don’t open movies – the movies themselves are responsible for any success. Studio executives could save millions if they had any balls and concentrated on story development rather than overblown actor salaries.
Hacky, you are wrong.People see movies starring Will Smith, because they want to see Will Smith, not because they like the concept of the film.Like “what” said, why did Seven Pounds make $165 million if it wasn’t Will Smith star power.That movie didn’t have an intriguing concept,and it definitely wasn’t well executed.
Will Smith is getting his Cary Grant on. He can open a movie. Look at his track record. Are you serious? I Am Legend was Will Smith, you literally paid just to see him! Oh I’m sorry, the fucking dog had 2nd billing so maybe his fan base is strong, or that ghoulish creature has devoted fans, give me a break. I could write, produce, and direct a movie and put Will Smith in it and I bet it opens Number 1.
And didn’t Nikki say “could open a movie”? Operative word being “could”, maybe Nikki thinks she can. Operative word being “can”.
And YESMAN, that list doesn’t mean anything, oh so SJP opens movie? Jolie is a better actress than Streep?
And we all know why assistants can’t unionize.
“what” ?
“Hacky” is right. Will Smith stars in the type of films audiences want to see, but audiences don’t go FOR Will Smith per se. Smith has made some good and lucky choices, and rode audience good will on Seven Pounds. If he veers far from the formula twice in a row, no one will be lining up at the theater anymore. Your rodeo clown with x-ray vision probably would do well as it’s in keeping with the save the world, epic concepts Smith favors and audiences love.
Either way, you missed the bigger point entirely, and either like to hear yourself talk, and can obviously google box office numbers, or are part of Smith’s representation.
Please let’s NOT make this thread into a Will Smith discussion.
The real point is this whole concept of actors opening movies is an antiquated notion, as there are no real movie stars anymore. The insistent mindset is why there are so few movies and mostly bad ones.
Great script, great concept, great direction, great acting. That opens movies.
Hacky – millions of people go and see movies just because will smith is in them. You could not be more wrong. Good luck on your spec buddy.
I’ve gotta agree with the posters above, Nikki. After checking her filmography, she’s only been in two films that grossed over $100M – Hanckock and Italian Job. And I don’t think you can credit her with the box office on either of those films.
Out of 26 total films, her average box office is $33M. Granted, certain “small” films like Battle in Seattle or the Woody Allen films are bound to artificially drag that average down somewhat, but still…that’s a pretty weak average for a ‘star.’
But, Jesus, did she look good wrestling with Teri Hatcher in 2 Days in the Valley…
TO YESMAN:
With the exception of Jolie… the common thread is CAA specifically Kevin Huvane… of course Nikki would never acknowledge that though.
“She’s one of the few Hollywood female stars who in the right vehicle could open a movie”
Is Theron talent? Absolutely. Is she a marketable? Not in the least. Heck, she couldn’t even help save ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT with her very funny guest stint.
YOU MISERABLE, TAINTED JERKS! Charlize is as good as it gets. Class. Talent. Beauty. Humor. Go back to the miserable lives you lead. Exactly what movie have any of you ever been in? If it wasn’t for people like Charlize, none of you would have your miserable toys. I’d love to piss in your sippy cups!
Theron, the obvious choice for a megamoneymaking reboot of Wonder Woman (include heavy Greek/scantily clad nude scenes on all-female Paradise Island, lots of javelin throwing, the sculpting of the Diana statue that is given life, her arrival stateside during WWII, kicking ass with up to the moment effects, looking hot as a black haired military librarian Diana Prince, never aging, Nazis, sequels, it’s all possible
She can’t open a movie for the obvious reasons. She isn’t a household name. She’s too old to get attention from young guys – still hot though. And being South African isn’t going to help her box-office numbers in North America as female movie-goers here seem to warm up more easily towards American actresses.
You’re all missing the point. This is about Charlize’s stalled career. She’s coasted for several year, obviously guided by only herself. She’s among the best, talent wise, but she’s still young and she needs some help. JJ Harris is not a good manager. She exhibits no vision for her clients, unlike some at Brillstein, Management 360 and several more powerful management firms. How can a large talent survive with no agent and shotty management. Someone on the team has to be of value or the best talent drops off the map. Obviously Charlize knew she needed help. I hope she takes it, she’s way too talented to just disappear.
Charlize + Monster + a lotta make-up = Academy Award for over-acting.
CAA may be the Death Star but WME is the evil empire.
I think Charlize Theron is immensely talented and willing to take on really edgy projects but great female roles in her age range are so few and far between that great actors compete like crazy for them, Winslet, Blanchette, Kidman, Cruz, Bullock, yes Bullock.
She’s making a strategic career decision to stay in the game and get to the point at which she can open a film. She’s got the chops, she just needs the team to get her there.
‘Smith could star in a movie as a gay rodeo clown with X-ray vision that saves the world from a killer gnat, and it would open. But he is the only actor you can say that about these days. Really.’
Ha! I’d pay to see that! Better plot line that 99% of the shit we’re fed at the movies.
Concept is the cake that gets them in. Talent is the icing. Like a lot of actors (and actresses) Charlize is seeing a radically changing studio landscape and is keeping up with the times. I’m sure Ari has been wooing her ever since she did Hancock with his old roommate Pete Berg. WME is lucky to have her–she is widely regarded as one of the most classy, intelligent, talented women in town.
CT is indeed talented. Open a movie? Not liklely. Good sign for WME? Sure. Who opend movies anyway? Maybe Will… As for JJ, good managers not be big co’s so long they are doing their jobs. Actors should have both agent + managers in today’s Hollywood.
Send her to TNT to play a cop that takes off her clothes right now.
Charlize could never truly open a movie, but she does well with prestige pictures (North Country and Monster). She is attached to 7 upcoming feature projects. Charlize probably gets decent foreign pre-sale dollars, but not nearly as much as Angelina Jolie, who can open a movie.
Will Smith can, in fact, open a movie, but word is he is the ONLY actor in Hollywood right now who can do that. Maybe (and that’s a big maybe) Steve Carrell or Will Farrell, but even then, it’s not a slam dunk.
why go to WME where she’s just another girl on a long list? if she went to paradigm, gersh, apa, icm, she’d be a big fish that gets agency wide attention. when will people wake up and realize the truth out there?