'Grey' leads pack at weekend B.O.

'The Grey'Once again showing Liam Neeson's draw becoming an action star, Open Road's sophomore film "The Grey" needed a commanding lead within the weekend's domestic B.O., scoring a terif thought $20 million through Sunday.While "The Grey" fell missing repeating Neeson's $25 million-opening for "Taken" this same frame last season, the wolf adventure pic handily exceeded industrywide anticipation, known as at somewhere just north of $tens of millions of for your weekend."Grey," plus a good $11.8 million debut perf for Lionsgate's femme-specific "One for the investment,In . aided 2012 domestic B.O. outstrip the prior year for your fourth straight weekend. A couple of days ago was up roughly 14%.Bowing in line with anticipation, Summit's "Guy around the Ledge" acquired an thought $8.3 million in 72 hrs.Simultaneously, the weekend's Oscar-nominated fare, introduced by Warner Bros.' "Very Noisy and very Close," saw healthy perfs in wide release. "Very Noisy" ranked No. 6 overall getting a forecasted $7.millions of, while Fox Searchlight's "The Descendants" acquired a seventh-place $6.6 000 0000 weekend take."Very Noisy" has cumed $21.millions of in your area "Descendants" showed up at $58.8 million, positioning the film to feed Searchlight's fifth-finest Stateside grosser, "Little Miss Sunshine," with $59.9 million.Legging out nicely for your Weinstein Co., Oscar-nommed "The Artist" extended a couple of days ago to 897 locations for just about any three-day gross of $3.3 million. "Artist" has cumed $16.7 million in your area. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

'Girl' shortens 'Shadows' overseas lead

Warner Bros.' holiday holdover "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" held onto its No. 1 post during the Jan. 20-22 overseas frame, scoring $18.3 million for an international cume of $261.3 million.But in its sixth frame, "Shadows" faded 38% from the previous weekend which allowed two Sony pics, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and "Underworld Awakening," to gain ground. The Sony pair posted three-day takes of $15.4 million and $14.8 million, respectively."Sherlock" earned a hearty portion of its total from China, which contributed $3.3 million over the three-day weekend. In its first five days, "Sherlock" nabbed approximately $10 million at the Chinese B.O. for a local cume of $13.3 million through Jan. 22."Dragon Tattoo," meanwhile, opened tops in France, with $3.2 million on 520 screens for a per-screen average of $6,243.Beside Gaul, "Tattoo" bowed in five other territories, including Mexico, where the film also ranked No. 1, thanks to a weekend take of $1.2 million at 540 parlors -- although inking a less-impressive per-screen average of $2,310. Other top territories for "Tattoo" were Germany ($2 million) and Australia ($1.5 million), both in their second outings."Underworld Awakening," the fourth installment in Screen Gems' franchise, debuted day-and-date with the U.S. in 37 overseas territories, led by Russia, Italy and the U.K., where Entertainment Film is distributing.In Russia, "Awakening" tallied a $5.8 million debut -- that's more than seven times better than the second installment, "Evolution," which was the series' previous best launch in that territory. Italy contributed $1.3 million for "Awakening," 32% bigger than "Evolution," while in the U.K. the fourpeat slightly trailed its predecessor with an opening of $1.7 million. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Cisneros, China internet pact for TV content

Around the eve from the NATPE content mart, Venezuela's Cisneros Group and condition broadcaster China Central Television have pacted to switch documentaries to improve mutual awareness and knowledge of their cultures. CCTV's Documentary Funnel will bow Latin Week, dedicated to an array of paperwork supplied by the Cisneros Group's global distributor Venevision Intl. As a swap, the Cisneros Group will secure a pan-regional funnel to air an accumulation of paperwork created by Closed-circuit television throughout South America. Sunday's agreement stands for Cisneros' resolve for china market included in its global expansion strategy, while highlighting CCTV's growing presence in worldwide marketplaces. The connection between your two dates back towards the 2008 Summer time Olympics in Beijing when Cisneros and Closed-circuit television decided to pool assets to distribute TV programming within their particular marketplaces. NATPE begins Monday in Miami. Cisneros is really a privately owned media, entertainment, telco and consumer items conglom. Closed-circuit television provides TV across China to the 1.3 billion people. Contact Bobbie Whiteman at bobbie.whiteman@variety.com

Social Energy Ratings: Should Katherine Heigl Go back to Grey's?

Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy Wow, everyone have been in a tizzy over Izzie! Consequently, Grey's Anatomy may be the No. 1 show within our Social Energy Ratings. Katherine Heigl lately introduced that they "really, really, desires to see where [Izzie] is" - so much in fact, that she's already requested revisit the show.Although some of you'd be thrilled to possess Dr. Stevens back at Dallas Sophistication, other medication is so over her. "I am a large fan from the show. I believe it's fantastic and that i seem like the Izzie chapter was closed, at Heigl's request," tweeted @jackiegkenyon. TVGuide.com commenter mars8664 concurs, but wouldn't mind Izzie's return - under one condition. "Grey's is way better without her. Should they have to create her back - what about inside a body bag?" Ouch!Not everybody is from the idea though. "I miss Izzie and I'd really want to see some closure regarding the Alex-Izzie relationship," Barrett Justice published on our Facebook wall. TVGuide.com user pattimarie1 is simply as nostalgic. "There is something about this number of interns that newbie. I'd like to visit a one- or two-episode reunion of all of them (T.R. Dark night too)."What is your opinion? Should Katherine Heigl go back to Grey's Anatomy?Some tips about what else has you speaking now: Ough Gervais states he's never hosting the Golden Globes again (again) and also the Large Bang Theory remembers its 100th episode!Return anytime to determine the most recent Social Energy Ratings, that are up-to-date instantly through the week.

Matt Damon Dropping Directorial Debut

Update: Gus Van Sant will direct insteadUPDATE:The Playlist suggested, and Deadline Hollywood has confirmed, that Gus VanSant is the man to step into Damon's shoes as director and lead this one to the screen.Expect to see other elements fall into place and filming start soon......Following in the footsteps of bestest bud Ben Affleck, Matt Damon has been plotting his first crack at directing a film for ages now. But while it looked in October that he might finally be making the leap to hoisting a megaphone with an untitled drama for Warner Bros., the Hollywood Reporter now has it that Damon has decided to ditch that job.He's still going to star in the movie, which is wrapped in some secrecy but apparently focuses on a salesman who arrives in a small town and finds his life changed in unexpected ways. Damon cooked up the idea alongside McSweeney's overlord/Where The Wild Things Are writer Dave Eggers and The Office's John Krasinski and had written the script with Krasinski, who is also due to take a role.But while he had intended to shepherd it to the screen himself, it would appear that scheduling issues (likely related to reshoots on District 9 director Neill Blomkamp's Elysium) have kept him from being able to prepare properly. Variety drops mention of script issues, which seems odd given Damon has been so directly involved. Still, it likely means a combination of both, with the pair tweaking the script until it's perfect. Warners and the producers are now on the hunt for a replacement director.Damon will next be seen in Cameron Crowe's We Bought A Zoo, which arrives here on March 16.

New Hunger Games images released

A completely new number of hi-res stills are actually released by Lionsgate to market approaching franchise opener The Hunger Games, giving us an chance to peruse a couple of from the trailer's blink-and-you'll-miss-it images at our leisure.There is not much if this involves new stuff here, but it's nice to acquire a proper have a look at numerous Pan-Em's more flamboyant denizens. We're thinking about Elizabeth Banks and Woodsy Harrelson particularly...Gleam have a look at Gary Ross behind the digital camera, and a lot of Jennifer Lawrence as youthful Katniss Everdeen, the "tribute" who must tool up and do fight regarding District 12.The Hunger Games is released inside the Uk on 23 March 2012. You will have a sort through the newest number of images below...

Doug Sellars dies at 50

Fox Sports Media Group executive Doug Sellars died Friday, 12 ,. 30, in La following a recent cardiac arrest. He was 50. Sellars, who had been professional Vice president of production and executive producer for the organization, was memorialized Sunday on all FSMG systems. Within the tribute, Fox Sports Media Group chairman David Hill stated of Sellars: "He would be a brilliant television producer, an extremely proud Canadian, a genuine fan of sports, and among the kindest, people you'll ever know." Sellars became a member of Fox Sports in 2000, managing live-event production at Fox Sports Internet. He would be a primary architect within the formation from the Speed cable internet. He oversaw Fox Sports Regional Network's manufacture of nearly 5,000 Major league baseball, National basketball association, and NHL games, in addition to national collegiate programming , including ACC and Pac-10 basketball and Large 12 and Pac-10 football. Sellars also oversaw FSN's transition from standard to hd production. After being named professional Vice president of Fox Sports in August, Sellars oversaw all studio and event production for that systems and organizations within FSMG, including Fox Sports, Fox Sports Regional Systems, Speed, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer, Fuel TV and FoxSports.com. He seemed to be an agent towards the Large Ten Network. "He introduced a leadership-type of working together, balance and fluidity together with his easygoing personality, self-deprecating spontaneity and firm hands," FSMG stated. Before joining Fox Sports, Sellars spent 12 years using the CBC, holding a number of production posts including senior executive producer. While in the Canadian pubcaster, Sellars covered a number of occasions such as the Olympic games (1988, 1992, 1996, 1998), Blue Jays baseball, "Hockey Evening in Canada," World Cup skiing and also the World Figure Skating Titles. Sellars started his career using the Canadian Sports Network being an connect producer. The Toronto native attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, graduation having a bachelor of applied arts degree in tv and radio. Sellars is made it by his wife of 26 years, Barb, and 2 children. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com