'Avatar 2' Crosses $955M Globally; Rob Marshall on 'Chicago' 20th Anniversary; How 'Babylon' Chases Hollywood's Decadent Past; Netflix's 'Treason' Review

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( December 27, 2022 What's news: Kate Hudson has weighed in on the Hollywood "nepo baby" debate. Netflix has set the date of Chris Rock's next special. The Sussexes have slammed an apology from a U.K. tabloid over an incendiary column written by Jeremy Clarkson. A plan to light up the Hollywood sign is dead. — [Abid Rahman]( 'Avatar 2' Crosses $955M Globally ►Blue Christmas. Avatar: The Way of Water easily won the four-day holiday weekend in North America with a Friday to Monday gross of $95.5m. The big-budget tentpole now boasts a domestic total of $293.2m and a whopping $955.1m globally. THR's [Pamela McClintock]( writes that outside of Avatar 2, the brutal weather afflicting large parts of Canada and the U.S. is hugely impacting holiday moviegoing at the North American box office. The holiday season revenue was down sharply even from last year. The hope now is that traffic will pick up this week and over New Year’s weekend. [The box office report.]( —"We’re a storytelling family." Kate Hudson says that she knows nepotism is real but feels it “doesn’t matter” if you work hard and happens “way more” in other industries outside of Hollywood. In a new interview, the actress, the daughter of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, waded into the nepotism debate spurred by a viral New York Magazine feature. [The story.]( —"Honestly, I’m pissed off." Despite Hollywood continuing to be IP-driven, with an emphasis on reboots, sequels and branded product, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery director Rian Johnson wishes that he could have trimmed a few words from that title. In a new interview, Johnson said that he strived to make both the current Netflix film and Lionsgate’s original 2019 hit Knives Out feel like complete stories that can exist on their own. [The story.]( 'Chicago' Turns 20 ►"We kind of flew under the radar." Chicago, the big screen adaptation of the musical of the same name, hit theaters today in 2002 (see the original review down below). To celebrate the landmark film's 20th anniversary, THR vaudevillian [Ryan Gajewski]( spoke to director Rob Marshall on the casting challenges (both Kevin Spacey and Kevin Kline were in the running to play Billy Flynn), the film's unexpected success at the box office ($306m worldwide) and at the Academy Awards (six Oscars including best picture). [The interview.]( —Not having it. The Sun's apology over a removed column from British media personality Jeremy Clarkson is nothing more than a “PR stunt,” a rep for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has said. In a statement to the BBC following The Sun’s retraction of and apology for the column — in which Clarkson expressed hate for the Duchess of Sussex on a “cellular level” — a spokesperson for the couple called the outlet’s response disingenuous. [The story.]( —Time is money. The Wicked Witch of the West’s iconic hourglass from The Wizard of Oz has been sold for $495,000 by Heritage Auctions. The red sand hourglass plays a central role in the movie, with the Wicked Witch threatening Dorothy with the immortal lines while holding it, "You see that? That’s how much longer you’ve got to be alive! And it isn’t long, my pretty! It isn’t long! I can’t wait forever to get those shoes!" [The story.]( —"In light of some issues that have been brought to my attention." Melanie Chisholm, aka Mel C of the Spice Girls, announced that she will no longer participate in a planned New Year’s Eve show in Poland. Chisholm did not specify an exact reason why she dropped out of the show, but the announcement led numerous individuals to praise her as an ally of the LGBTQ community. Poland has received media attention in recent years over its establishment of so-called “LGBT-free zones” that seek to limit personal freedoms. [The story.]( How 'Babylon' Chases Hollywood's Decadent Past ►"Money was fast and easy, so was the trouble that came along with it." For THR, author and film historian Chris Yogerst looks at how Damien Chazelle's Babylon, which offers the audience plenty of decadence and debauchery, explores a real place and time and embraces Tinseltown's history, to a point. [The story.]( —Delivering "structured chaos." THR's [Mikey O'Connell]( spoke to I Hate Suzie Too co-creator Lucy Prebble on the recent three-episode return of the Billie Piper-led dark British comedy. Prebble discusses writing a scripted breakdown for one of her closest friends, that Britney Spears moment and what's next for her Emmy-winning gig on the Succession writing and producing staff. [The interview.]( —"It’s a lot easier for me to rule stuff out than to tell you what we’re pursuing." Dan Harmon says nailing down what the Community movie’s plot would be a decade after the show ended has been a mix of anxiety, avoidance and a tricky challenge in how to address the passage of time. In a new interview, Harmon discussed his thought process around producing the long-awaited next chapter and how he and co-writer Andrew Guest have been grappling with topical issues like (paintball) guns in schools. [The story.]( —"People’s feelings had to be considered." Kasi Lemmons said she fought for the inclusion of Whitney Houston’s early relationship with childhood friend and former creative director Robyn Crawford to be featured in the biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. In a new interview, the filmmaker said that she worked primarily with Houston's estate on re-creating the late singer's friendship with Crawford, but not directly with Crawford who has claimed the relationship was intimate. [The story.]( Hollywood Tech Advisors on Adding Special Skills to Actors' Resumes ►Jack of all trades. For THR, Carita Rizzo spoke to the technical advisors that consulted on The Menu, Top Gun: Maverick, The Northman and Thirteen Lives who explain how they brought authenticity to the respective portrayals of a Michelin-starred chef, a fighter pilot, a viking berserker and a cave diver. [The story.]( —Not happening. Los Angeles’ newly installed mayor, Karen Bass, has rescinded an order to light up the Hollywood sign. Her predecessor, Eric Garcetti, had signed the order Dec. 11, his last day in office, noting that the 100th anniversary of the sign is approaching in 2023. [The story.]( —📅 Mark it down 📅 Netflix has announced the release date of Chris Rock’s upcoming comedy special and its first-ever event to stream live globally. Selective Outrage, the comedian’s second special for the streamer following 2018’s Tamborine, will stream live March 4 at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. [The story.]( TV Review: 'Treason' ►"Run-of-the-mill British espionage hijinx." THR's chief TV critic [Dan Fienberg]( reviews Netflix's Treason. Charlie Cox, Oona Chaplin, Olga Kurylenko and Ciaran Hinds star in the five-part London-set spy thriller. [The review.]( In other news... —Doctor Who [60th anniversary special teaser features David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Neil Patrick Harris]( —MrBeast [scores Hans Zimmer to soundtrack latest YouTube video]( —[Maggie Thrett]( Star Trek and Three in the Attic actress, dies at 76 —[Ronan Vibert]( Saving Mr. Banks and The Borgias actor, dies at 58 —[Dax Tejera]( executive producer of ABC’s This Week, dies at 37 What else we're reading... —Adrian Horton on why some of the best TV shows this year were workplace dramas [[Guardian]( —Ben Lindbergh writes that 2022 was the year of the prequel [[Ringer]( —James Poniewozik writes that the TV of 2022 depicted the weird, warping pressures of work and ambition in a boom-and-bust economy [[NYT]( —Ashley Lee spoke to the director and actors of the stage version of The Whale, who open up on why the production is a "cathartic release" [[LAT]( —Alex Abad-Santos on how The Cheesecake Factory defied the restaurant industry’s rules of success [[Vox]( Today... ...in 2002, the musical Chicago debuted in theaters on its way to award season glory. The film claimed six Oscars at the 75th Academy Awards, including best picture. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: [Timothée Chalamet]( (27), Olivia Cooke (29), Eva LaRue (56), Emilie de Ravin (41), Mark Humphrey (62), Hera Hilmar (34), Masi Oka (48), Gaspar Noé (59), John Amos (83), Chloe Bridges (31), Elizabeth Rodriguez (42), Joe Mantello (60), Jay Ellis (41), Siobhán McSweeney (43), Lily Cole (35), Tovah Feldshuh (74), Jessica Harmon (37), Aaron Stanford (46) Maxi Jazz, a DJ and the lead singer for the electronic British band Faithless, has died. He was 65. [The obituary.]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](mailto:tips@thr.com?subject=). This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Penske Media Corporation. Please add email@email.hollywoodreporter.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the [Preferences Center]( to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. 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