Archive for January 3rd, 2012

Despite low budgets, each film has made more than $80 million in the U.S.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with additional reporting by Eric Ditzian

A scene from “Paranormal Activity 3″

Photo: Paramount Pictures

After the third installment made just under $108 million in the U.S. alone, few could really doubt that a “Paranormal Activity 4″ would be here just in time for Halloween 2012. The found-footage series has become Paramount’s yearly sure thing, since the low-budget thrillers have each earned more than $80 million domestically.

“Paranormal Activity 3″ played a key role in securing Paramount’s spot as the top-earning studio of 2011, so when the studio casually unveiled plans for the next installment during their victory-lap press release, it almost went unnoticed.

The release reads: “In 2012, Paramount’s release slate highlights include ‘World War Z,’ a zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ the next installment in the global franchise starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Channing Tatum, a new chapter in the ‘Paranormal Activity’ franchise, and ‘The Dictator,’ starring Sacha Baron Cohen and directed by Larry Charles, the team behind ‘Borat.’”

“Paranormal 3,” directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, took the series into the past, looking at what could be considered the series’ origins story. While the story explained why the demon had such a liking for the sisters, Katie and Kristi, it left many of the questions from the modern-day “Paranormal 2″ unanswered.

As for whether Joost and Schulman would return for a second round of directing, the team told MTV News they were open to it. “I had a blast. I’d do it again,” Schulman said.

Joost joked that they’d take the series even further into the past. “We have some ideas. It’s going to be just drawings — calligraphy and watercolors. And set in the 1800s.”

Are you going to see “Paranormal Activity 4″ this year? Let us know in the comments!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Green changed a key line in Lennon’s song during his New Year’s Eve performance.
By James Montgomery

Cee Lo Green

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

How did you spend your New Year’s Eve? Well, if you were Cee Lo Green, you began by royally ticking off John Lennon fans, then briefly apologizing for your transgressions before finally agreeing to disagree.

Yes, Green caught some heat after changing a key line to Lennon’s 1971 classic “Imagine” during his performance on NBC’s New Year’s Eve telecast — he turned the pointed “And no religion too” into the far more, uh, inclusive “And all religion’s true” — a move that drew criticism from longtime Lennon fans. In a flurry of tweets, they chastised him for everything from messing with the song’s true message to causing the late musician to roll over in his grave, a response that had Green on the defensive.

After his performance, he took to his Twitter account to apologize, writing, “Yo I meant no disrespect by changing the lyric guys … I was trying to say a world where u could believe what u wanted, that’s all.” Of course, soon after, Green apparently had a change of heart, deleting his mea culpa (and all related tweets), and replacing them with a simple “Happy new year everyone!”

In a follow-up tweet, he took a subtle jab at his detractors, writing that he was currently listening to “We Just Disagree” by Dave Mason, though, in response to a fan’s question, he said that his playlist choice had nothing to do with the “Imagine” flap and everything to do with “indifference in general.” Of course, Lennon fans will probably be happy to know that, according to Green’s latest tweet, he’s also been listening to “I’m Only Sleeping,” a Beatles track from their seminal Revolver album.

A spokesperson for Green could not be reached for comment on the matter by press time.

Related Artists

• Cee Lo Green
• John Lennon