Monday Movie Report: Lord and Miller partner with Universal for future productions

The film-making duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller are teaming up with Universal Pictures through a first-look deal.

According to Variety, Lord and Miller have penned their first feature deal with Universal, where they will develop pictures in the comedy and drama genres. Variety reports the duo will work on features based on original content and existing properties.

The team is known for their work in both the live action and animation sides of film.

The two have worked together in directing “21 Jump Street,” 22 Jump Street” and “The LEGO Movie.” The two also wrote “The LEGO Movie” and “The LEGO Movie 2.” Additionally, Lord wrote “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” while Miller served as a producer.

“Universal has a history of breaking new ground and championing unexpected voices, so for us it’s a very welcoming environment to make bold, original films that push the medium forward,” the duo said in a statement, according to Variety.

Lord and Miller are currently working on a new action/crime picture called “Artemis” by Fox and the sci-fi flick “The Last Human” with Sony.

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At the box office this weekend, it was the “Fast and Furious” spin-off flick “Hobbs and Shaw” earning the top spot with a respectable $60.8 million. “The Lion King,” meanwhile, had another good weekend, grossing $38.2 million for the No. 2 spot.

The full top five was:

1. Hobbs and Shaw – $60,800,000
2. The Lion King – $38,246,000
3. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – $20,025,000
4. Spider-Man: Far From Home – $7,755,000
5. Toy Story 4 – $7,150,000

For the upcoming weekend, new movies include the horror “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” the live action adaptation of the animated kids show “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” along with the crime drama “The Kitchen.”

On the small screen, meanwhile, new releases are:

• Detective Pikachu, my rating: 2.75 out of 5, Large Association of Movie Blogs rating: 3.19 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 68%.
• The Curse of La Llorona, Large Association of Movie Blogs rating: 2 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 30%.
• Poms, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 35%.
• Tolkien, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 51%.
• Amazing Grace, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 99%.