David Letterman Near Deal to Stay on Late Show Through 2014

The Late Show with David Letterman David Letterman was passed over to succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show, but is now poised to dethrone Carson as the longest-running late-night star in TV history. Letterman, 64, is nearing a deal with CBS that would keep him behind the desk of the Late Show through 2014, according to The NY Times. 2014 will mark his 32nd year in late night (11 years on NBC's Late Night followed by what would be 21 years on CBS). Carson was on the air in late night for 30 years. As Dave catches Jay, are the late night wars over? CBS has been authorized by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, to make new deals with the show's staff, producers and writers, according to the newspaper. Although this indicates a deal with Letterman is "very close," as a source tells the Times, the future of CBS' other late-night host, Craig Ferguson, is uncertain. He may choose not to continue as the host of The Late Late Show. Although it was believed that Letterman would retire at the end of his current two-year deal, which expires in August, he is now likely to stay on TV. Ferguson has a clause in his contract that he will succeed Letterman whenever he chooses to step down. However, Ferguson may leave CBS if he is not offered a big salary or a higher production budget for his show, according to the Times. Are you happy David Letterman is staying in late night?

Frosh target different demos at B.O.

Disney "Beauty & the Beast 3D" (L-R) Belle & the Beast. 2011 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady" A three-way horse race among the weekend's new entries, along with several expansions for Golden Globes-nominated fare, should help keep overall domestic B.O. totals in line over the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.Leading the pack is Universal's Mark Wahlberg thriller "Contraband," which bows today at 2,862 locations. Warner Bros.' musical-comedy "Joyful Noise" follows at 2,735, while Disney goes wide with its 3D re-release of 1991's "Beauty and the Beast," at 2,625 Stateside engagements.None of those pics, however, are expected to reach last weekend's record-setting $33.7 million debut for "The Devil Inside." Instead, bizzers predict the trio will fight for top placement, with bows through Monday in the mid teens.But amid the recent unpredictablity of the marketplace, tallies could sway in either direction.Among this weekend's awards hopefuls, the Weinstein Co. aggressively expands "The Iron Lady" -- nominated at the Globes for best actress-drama -- to 802 engagements, up from five, while Sony Pictures Classics' twice-nommed "Carnage" (both in the actress, comedy or musical category) broadens to nearly 500 playdates. "Iron Lady," entering its third frame, has tallied almost $570,000 domestically; "Carnage" stands at approximately $530,000 after four weeks.Also competing in the actress-drama category, Oscilloscope's "We Need to Talk About Kevin," starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly, bows limited at two engagements.FilmDistrict's Globes foreign-lingo contender "In the Land of Blood and Honey" also expands today, to 18 locations.Meanwhile, Warner's "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" should continue its reign atop the international B.O., expanding to Brazil. Last weekend, "Sherlock" displaced three-week overseas champ "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," which has cumed $289.9 million internationally. "Sherlock" has grossed $180.6 million in total."Contraband" reps the only new studio release to open day-and-date overseas, debuting in seven territories, including Russia.Domestically, the film is tracking similarly to Par's "The Fighter," which expanded wide during the equivalent frame in 2010, though U said "Contraband" is showing slightly stronger responses among young men. "The Fighter" earned $12.1 million in its first wide weekend."Contraband," based on the 2008 German film "Reykjavik-Rotterdam," is helmed by first-time director Baltasar Kormakur, and comes from Working Title and Relativity Media. Pic cost a reported $25 million.While "Contraband" is expected to open strong with mostly male auds, Warner's "Joyful Noise," toplining Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, will earn the majority of its opening tally from women. The Alcon-produced and -financed pic is poised as counterprogramming to "Contraband," though "Joyful Noise" might lose some of its femme aud, particularly moms, to Disney's 3D "Beauty."The Mouse re-release will benefit most from kids out of school, with an estimated 15% out today and 91% out on Monday."Beauty" in 3D isn't expected to hit the same opening heights as "The Lion King" did in its 3D rerelease in September ($30.2 million). "The Lion King" had more than doubled "Beauty's" initial theatrical earnings.Like "Lion King," Disney said it hopes "Beauty" will play to non-family auds based on nostalgic reasons. "Lion King" in 3D cumed nearly $95 million domestically -- a high bar for "Beauty."Disney released a 3D version of "Beauty" theatrically last September for an exclusive run at L.A.'s El Capitan theater. Launch was meant to coincide with the film's 3D DVD and Blu-ray release on Oct. 4. (Pic first came out on Blu-ray in 2010.) Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Tech notes from around the biz

London vfx house Cinesite is accepting applications for its annual internship program, Inspire, now in its third year. Program now includes a new technical effects strand that specifically targets graduates with an interest in computer programming or technical effects. Antony Hunt, managing director, added the track to encourage a new-generation of programmers to consider the vfx industry as a viable option for their skills and to help budding effects artists demonstrate their technical ability. Cinesite internships are six-week paid summertime positions. "I'm always bowled over by the amount of submissions we receive for Inspire, and every year the quality of entries keeps getting better," said Hunt. Previous Inspire winners have worked on "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," "John Carter" and "World War Z ." Since finishing their placements, all six winners have secured positions at Cinesite. * * * Bunim/Murray Productions picked Avid technology for all its editorial work beginning early this year, shifting away from Apple's Final Cut Pro software. As part of the switch, B/M will deploy Avid Media Composer 6, Avid Symphony and an Avid ISIS 500 shared-storage system. Company is credited with helping to create the reality television genre with its series "The Real World." Its work includes such shows as "Keeping up with the Kardashians," "Kourtney & Kim Take NY" and "Project Runway." "Due to the large volume of media generated by our reality shows, we needed to re-evaluate our editing and storage solutions," said Mark Raudonis, senior VP of post-production. Working closely with Avid and its reseller Key Code Media, B/M ultimately selected Avid for its ability to integrate Media Composer 6 and Symphony 6 into its existing infrastructure. "We won't need to change out any of the hardware from our editing stations," Raudonis added. "It's just a software install." * * * Editorial house and Deluxe subsidiary Beast has completed directing and editorial work for Western Union, via agency 180 Amsterdam , to promote "World of Betters," a six-week viral campaign that asks "what would you do with $1,000 to make someone's day better?" Western Union partnered with such stars as Alicia Keys, John Legend, K'naan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Pitbull to host "live-better events" around the world showcasing how Western Union moves money. Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Total Films Goon Screening Report

[brightcove]1341474661001[/brightcove]Because of people people who found our exclusive screening of Goon last evening!Locked in the Charlotte now now Street Hotel london, we positioned on the film for your lucky individuals who win within our competition this year's week.The lavish location and free-flowing booze certainly shown to become impressive counter for the publish-Christmas blues.After our site visitors had taken their seats inside the screening room, Total Film's Jamie Graham introduced the evening's special guest: Goon star Seann William Scott!Following a crowd Q&A, we clicked in the American Cake actor for just about any quick chat, which he needed part in the Twitter interview with this particular fans (have a look at Total Film's Twitter timeline for his solutions, or search #goon).The absurdly likeable star also told us about his favourite new British catchphrase that he's acquired the following ("How's about some the old 'How's your father?'") and looking forward to his return to the American Cake franchise:"I seen [American Reunion] about recently plus it was awesome... It absolutely was wonderful to film it, I'd this kind of great experience but to check out it and discover everything meet up and everybody be really wonderful in [it], that alone is regarded as the rewarding."But he appeared to become keen to point he has not used among Steve Stifler's trademark lines to speak up a girl in solid-existence ("Oh my gosh God, In my opinion I'd probably get f**king hit... Or destroyed!"Which younger crowd shares the same type of films to TF: "I merely seen Drive, I thought it had been really awesome. Ryan Gosling's a genuine great actor and, guy, I am unable to say I really could ever do just about anything like him, but I'd love playing people kind of parts. It absolutely was awesome, it absolutely was stylish, and [Gosling] was great."On his terrible ice-skating capabilities, he told us: "I practised for approximately monthly before shooting which i attracted completely by way of the conclusion of shooting, and fortunately my character was stated to become bad... Just like a hockey player I'm awful."So thank you to all or any who handled to obtain before, and sorry should you didn't be capable of score tickets only at that juncture. Goon opens inside the Uk today.Read Total Film's Goon review.

Nick Frost's Role in 'Tintin': Why the Actor Rejected to think about Steven Spielberg's First Mobile Call

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg, the comic co-stars of cult films 'Shaun in the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz,' are really starring in a few large-title blockbusters: Pegg is at 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol' and 'Star Trek,' and Frost is filming 'Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman.' When weren't enough, are generally in Steven Spielberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin,' which hits theaters today. Frost recently referred to to Movieline about how precisely he thought he missed his opportunity to remain in 'Tintin,' after choosing not obtain the telephone when Steven Spielberg referred to as to recruit him. Pegg was the one which first suggested Frost for your role. However, if Spielberg's California office known as Frost at his home in England to determine if he was interested, he was in the heart of making dinner. "It absolutely was like 9 o'clock throughout the evening," Frost recognized. "They mentioned, 'Steven's prone to ring you in 10 mins should you might be available,' however was cooking my wife's dinner. She wasn't in, I used to be cooking her foods. Plus it arrived at a really crucial reason behind the preparation which meant I really could not answer that mobile call without wrecking my wife's dinner. Therefore I dropped it -- I dropped the telephone call!Inch That needs to be a first for Spielberg, who produced a "really confused message" saying, "Um ... hey, Nick. Did my office contact you? Anyway, call me back." Frost was sure he'd blown his chance, nevertheless it all worked out. "Eventually we have got to speak with one another and, you understand, we managed to get happen. I used to be so pleased! He's quite the hero, he's symbolic of mine if this involves filmmaking, and a lot of my film touchstones are films that he's made. Nonetheless, you can't bring by utilizing your self on set. In my opinion me and Simon allowed ourselves like two several hours of fanboy dancing." Frost also did somewhat dancing (from the different sort, that's) round the subject from the final 'Indiana Jones' film, dodging the question of whether he loved it or else. "Well, you understand. It's tricky, clearly ... but it's still an 'Indiana Jones' film. It's still Harrison Ford as Indiana Manley! I still got that feeling once i heard the music activity. It is really an 'Indiana Jones' film, you understand? It's a Steven Spielberg film ... Should i be trying to become democratic about things ... I loved it. It absolutely was strange, plus it was different, nevertheless it was unmistakably a Steven Spielberg film, which is okay with me at night.In . Browse the entire interview, where Frost discusses his role in 'Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman,' at Movieline. [via Movieline] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

The spanish language biz fears subsidy cut

MADRID -- Spain's new Culture Minister has produced considerable concern within the The spanish language movie industry because it fears for future years of condition film subsidies. Spain's new center-right Popular Party government will "promote sponsorship for culture, progressively changing the present subsidy-based model," Culture Minister Jose Ignacio Wert told The spanish language newspaper El Mundo Wednesday. Wert's words echo the fiscal austerity program guaranteed Monday by Mariano Rajoy because he required over as The spanish language pm. To chop Spain's deficit to 4.4% of GDP in 2012, Rajoy stated The country will have to slash Euros16.5 billion ($21.5 billion) of public expenditure the coming year. Spain's central government subsidy fund was at $100 million this year. Most producers expect some kind of reduction for 2012. The things they fear, however, is really a total dismantlement of the system still vital for you to get films produced in The country. "Before wrecking the present model, you need to make sure the brand new one works," stated Pedro Perez, prexy of Spain's producers org Fapae. A sociologist and liberal, Wert is really a staunch opponent of piracy: Internet pirates, he authored captured, aren't "Robin Hoods however the new barbarians." He's likely to pass enabling legislation for Spain's lengthy mooted anti-piracy law that will aim to shutter illegal peer-to-peer sites. But, having a full 2012 budget unlikely prior to the finish of March, multiple questions hang over The spanish language condition film funding. Any foreign producer searching to co-produce with The country will discover many local producers reluctant to commit until, for better or worse, heaven clears. Emiliano p Pablos led for this article. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jane Fonda to Call Shots on Aaron Sorkin's New Cinemax Series

Jane Fonda Jane Fonda is going to cable. The 2-time Oscar champion will join the cast of Aaron Sorkin's new Cinemax series concerning the cable news business inside a recurring role, TVLine reviews. Cinemax accumulates Aaron Sorkin series about cable news Fonda, 73, wil play Leona Lansing, the Boss of the imaginary cable news network's parent company who's more worried about the company aspects compared to confirming side of the organization. Hmm, the alliterative title might be a jerk to Fonda's ex-husband, CNN founder Ted Turner. As formerly introduced, Shaun Daniels will have an anchor in the network, while Emily Mortimer will have his new executive producer. Mike Waterston will mind in the newsroom staff which includes Alison Pill, John Gallagher, Junior., Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and Thomas Sadoski. Fonda received two Best Actress Academy awards on her roles in Klute and Returning Home. Her TV credits range from the ABC movie The Dollmaker, that she won an Emmy, along with a cameo within the unsuccessful 9 to 5 adaptation.