‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Ruled the Box Office Last Weekend

These two just had a big weekend at the box office.

Frank Masi/Universal Pictures

Greetings and salutations, and welcome to today’s edition of The Monitor, WIRED’s pop culture news roundup. What’s topping the (news) charts this day? For starters, the latest Fast & Furious flick Hobbs & Shaw made bank at the box office. Also, Phil Lord and Chris Miller are going to Universal, and Batwoman is the future. Let’s get started.

Hobb’s & Shaw Muscles Its Way to $60 million Opening Weekend

Take that, Tarantino. Last weekend, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw made $60.8 million, topping the domestic box office and adding to its $180 million global take. The movie, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, is expected to amass even more as the summer progresses and the power of the Rock’s arms becomes even more undeniable to audiences.

Lord and Miller Are Taking Their Wares to Universal

The dynamic duo behind The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—Phil Lord and Chris Miller—are going to Universal Pictures. The pair just signed a first-look deal with the studio for future movie projects. Lord and Miller also have a massive, five-year television pact with Sony Pictures TV. In other words, expect a lot more adventure with acerbic wit on screens large and small in the coming years.

Batwoman Is the Future

First off, the bad news: The 100, Supernatural, and Arrow will all end their runs during the 2019-2020 TV season. Now the good news: CW president Mark Pedowitz knows what happens next. “Batwoman is the next evolution,” he told reporters during the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, speaking of the new show starring Ruby Rose as the DC Comics superhero. “We believe that this universe will continue for many years.” He added that he believed other DC-based shows like Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and The Flash would remain on the air for years to come.

Dune’s Release Date Is Moving

Finally, Warner Bros. announced late Friday that it’ll move the release of Dune from November 20, 2020, to December 18, 2020. The adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel, which is being directed by Denis Villeneuve, will get an IMAX release when it hits theaters.

More Great WIRED Stories

Read More