Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer

When is an animated kids show a Hulk-sized big deal? When it continues a blockbuster Disney/Marvel movie franchise that has also become the linchpin of ABC’s fall lineup. The synergistic aspects of “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” — being previewed on boy-oriented cable network Disney XD, in advance of a series date in July — are thus... Read more »

This is probably not how Warner Bros. wanted to head into the Memorial Day weekend. With the studio seemingly to finally get their long developing "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." movie going, with Guy Ritchie attached to direct and Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander coming in supporting roles, they've just lost their leading man. That's right, Tom Cruise has bailed on the movie, with Deadline revealing he's focusing on "Mission: Impossible 5" instead. It seems Paramount want 'Impossible' shooting by the end of the year, and Cruise tends to be super involved in every detail of that franchise, so scheduling in 'U.N.C.L.E.' turned out to be an... impossibility! So what's Warner Bros. to do? They will want the movie to shoot this fall but replacing an actor of Cruise's caliber isn't easy at all. An actor who can play to overseas markets the way he can, and command the budget this sort of international action pic needs, well...the list isn't very big. We'd wager his exit means the budget is...