Shocking 'Inbetweeners'

1. Simon Bird with Emily Atack 2. Chris Young in Leicester Square Producer Chris Young attends the Inbetweeners Movie world premiere at Vue Leicester Square on August 16, 2011 in London, England. "The Inbetweeners Movie" World Premiere - Inside Arrivals Vue Leicester Square London, England United Kingdom August 16, 2011LONDON -- "Good evening, popcorn wankers" was the cheery greeting from producer Chris Young to the audience at the Aug. 16 London premiere of Entertainment Film Distributors' "The Inbetweeners Movie," a spinoff from Channel 4's teenage cult sitcom.The incongruously strait-laced and middle-aged Young was only borrowing one of the show's notoriously vulgar catchphrases ("briefcase wanker").Stars Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison, along with writers Iain Morris and Damon Beesley and director Ben Palmer, walked the red carpet in Leicester Square, thronged by hundreds of teenage fans.Apologizing for the shock of seeing their faces (and as it turned out, other less attractive body parts) so huge on the bigscreen, Harrison reassured the aud that "it's not actually a horror film, it's a comedy." Judging by the sustained laughter throughout, he didn't need to worry."The Inbetweeners" airs Stateside on BBC America, and an MTV remake is in the works. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Box Office Update: 'The Help' Earns a Rare A+ CinemaScore From Moviegoers

Tate Taylor'sThe Helpgot off to animpressive startat the Wednesday box office, grossing at least $5 million in its first day and earning a rare A+ CinemaScore from delighted moviegoers.our editor recommends'The Help' Author Responds to Lawsuit By Maid Who Says Book Is Based on Her'The Help' Kicks Off Awards Season on the Eve of Theatrical DebutEmma Stone in 'The Help' Trailer PHOTOS: 'The Help's' Retro, Southern Style DreamWorks and Disney decided to open the movie midweek to build buzz going into the weekend. The move appears to be paying off, with fans ofKathryn Stockett'snovel turning out in force, along with moviegoers simply curious about the film's storyline and large female cast, led byEmma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard. It's still too early to say how muchThe Helpwill open to over the course of its five-day debut. Disney is sticking to its $20 million estimate, although other box office observers say the film could easily open north of $25 million based on Wednesday's performance. The Help is only the second movie of the year to receive an A+ CinemaSocre after TriStar/Film District's Soul Surfer. Films earning the top score enjoy strong multiples, such as Soul Surfer, which opened to $10.6 million and grossed $43.9 million domestically. Disney's Tangled and Disney/Pixar's Story 3, both released in 2010, also received A+ CinemaScores and enjoyed similar multiples. STORY: 'The Help's' Emma Stone: What Critics Say of Her Performance The Helpis benefiting from appealing to female moviegoers otherwise turned off by Hollywood's big summer blockbusters, with women making up 83% of Wednesday's audience. Roughly 78% were over the age of 25. As a way of comparison,The Helpis keeping up so far withJulie & Julia, another femme-fueled film that opened last August. But becauseJulie & Juliaopened on a Friday, it had the advantage of stronger nighttime traffic and grossed $6.4 million for the day. That film opened to $20 million. FILM REVIEW: 'The Help' Rival studios were impressed by the businessThe Helpwas doing on Wednesday. "That's a terrific number," one executive at another studio said. Set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Miss.,The Helpexplores the complicated relationships between white women and their maids, and what happens when a young white journalist exposes how the maids are treated STORY: 'The Help' Premiere: 5 Things Seen and Heard on the Red Carpet DreamWorks and Participant Media co-financed the $25 million the movie, which was produced byChris ColumbusandMike Barnathan's1492 Pictures. The film is already drawing awards buzz for its performances. A survey of 1,000 moviegoers by online ticketing service Fandango found that 77% of those interested in seeingThe Helphad read the book, while 95% reported that the film's surprising comic relief makes them more interested in seeing the film. And nearly 70% said they were looking forward to seeing a summer movie with substance. Related Topics Bryce Dallas Howard Viola Davis Box Office Emma Stone Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group DreamWorks SKG The Help

Twilight Co-Star Arrested for Year-Old Four Loko Incident

TMZ reports that Kiowa Gordon, the 21-year-old actor who plays Quileute tribe member (and Jacob BFF) Embry Call in New Moon, Eclipse, and the Breaking Dawn chapters of the Twilight Saga, has been arrested in Tempe, Ariz., “for an active warrant stemming from a drug paraphernalia possession arrest in 2010” when he was busted for having a marijuana pipe and drinking a Four Loko while underage. Tsk, tsk young shapeshifter! The Wolf Pack (and fellow Mormon Stephenie Meyer, who recruited Gordon to the franchise from her own church group) should be none too pleased… [TMZ]

Actor Playing Death Leaves Off-Broadway Musical

NEW YORK (AP) Death is taking a permanent vacation.Julian Ovenden, who plays the Grim Reaper in the new Maury Yeston-Thomas Meehan musical "Death Takes a Holiday" has bowed out of the production due to laryngitis.Says Ovenden: "I am deeply saddened to have to say goodbye."Producers said Wednesday that Kevin Earley, who had been substituting for Ovenden since July 19, takes over officially for the rest of the run which ends Sept. 4.The Roundabout Theatre Company's production, which is playing off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, is based on the Italian drama of the same name by Alberto Casella.The plot, which tells the story of Death taking human form and falling in love, was made into the 1998 film "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PHOTO CREDIT Joan Marcus NEW YORK (AP) Death is taking a permanent vacation.Julian Ovenden, who plays the Grim Reaper in the new Maury Yeston-Thomas Meehan musical "Death Takes a Holiday" has bowed out of the production due to laryngitis.Says Ovenden: "I am deeply saddened to have to say goodbye."Producers said Wednesday that Kevin Earley, who had been substituting for Ovenden since July 19, takes over officially for the rest of the run which ends Sept. 4.The Roundabout Theatre Company's production, which is playing off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, is based on the Italian drama of the same name by Alberto Casella.The plot, which tells the story of Death taking human form and falling in love, was made into the 1998 film "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.