Things We Saw Today: Dune Making Solid Numbers on Big Screen With Projection of $39.1 Million

The spice is flowing very well for Dune with the Denis Villeneuve film expected to top the North American box office this weekend.

According to Variety it should meet the targeting a $33 million opening weekend haul, while other industry projections have the film opening as highly $39.1 million. Overseas the film has already made $130 million from international markets heading into the weekend. This is a huge success for Villeneuve, Dune fans such as myself, and sci-fi in general.

Even though I have some issues with the film, I have a lot of respect for the love Villeneuve poured into the film and just because I don’t think the film was perfect, doesn’t mean I wasn’t rooting for it to go far. The decision for a hybrid release of the film was met by derision from Villeneuve, but I think it will allow audiences who might not usually check out a film like this to get invested and then come back for more. Plus having subtitles is always a plus, since the sound mixing is still weird.

Now announce Dune: Part Two!

(via Variety, image: Warner Bros.)

• Meadow Walker, daughter of the late Paul Walker, was walked down the aisle by Vin Diesel at her wedding. I’m not crying, you’re crying. (via CNN)
• “Dave stands by his art,” a spokesperson for Chappelle tells Yahoo Entertainment. “Both sides of the street are talking and Dave is listening. At some point, when everyone is open, I’m sure our communities will come together. As Dave said in his special, ‘No more jokes about transgenders until we can all laugh together.'” (via Yahoo)
• Prince Charles apparently has plans for when he becomes king to modernize the royal houses. (via SheKnows)
• Actor Peter Scolari has passed away at age 66, following a two-year battle with cancer. (via Vulture)
• Broadway is reopening and trying to deal with some of the racial issues that have come up in the meantime concerning some of their biggest shows. (via NYT)

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