"Jane Doe" on Ledger Coke Video Tries to Keep Privacy Suit Alive
George Pimentel/WireImage.com
Nearly seven months after his death, what Heath Ledger did behind closed doors is still a major issue for some people.
A woman suing celebrity-photo agency Splash News after she ended up on a tape featuring the late actor in close proximity to cocaine is fighting to keep her legal action from being dismissed.
The plaintiff, who refers to herself only as "Jane Doe" in her complaint, claims her privacy rights were violated because she was caught on video with the Dark Knight star—whom she claims was duped into participating.
Was Criminal Probe of Ledger Star Mistreatment?
Jim Spellman/WireImage.com, Nick Harvey/WireImage.com
I don't want to sound jaded, but why is there a criminal investigation into Heath Ledger's death? Thousands of people overdose every year, but I don't see a federal case being made out of their deaths. What's up with that?
—T. Freckleton
Apparently, anyone who dies of a prescription-drug overdose attracts the attention of the Drug Enforcement Administration. When Heath Ledger first died in January, the DEA insisted it was "routine," in the words of a spokesperson, for them to look into possible illegal sales of the drugs involved—in light of doctor shopping and whatnot.
I normally wouldn't buy that line, especially given the number of agents who were apparently leaping like horny salmon all over Mary-Kate Olsen and anyone else who ever breathed the same air as Ledger. It all seemed way too eager and special.
But there is one piece of information that leads me to believe that the DEA is largely telling the truth. Find out more about what I know, after the jump.
Update
Heath Ledger Drug Case Closed
Ash Knotek/Snapers/ZUMAPress.com
Mary-Kate Olsen has avoided being served.
Law enforcement reps, speaking on condition of anonymity, are saying that the Drug Enforcement Administration has closed its investigation into how Heath Ledger obtained two of the prescription painkillers found in his system at the time of his sudden death on Jan. 22.
That aspect of the federal agency's inquiry was expected to involve Olsen, who via her attorney issued a statement Monday saying that she had "nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body, and does not know where he obtained them."
Feds Prepare Subpoena for Mary-Kate in Heath Drug Case
Jim Spellman/WireImage.com, Nick Harvey/WireImage.com
Guess Mary-Kate Olsen hasn't given officials all the "relevant information" they needed in the Heath Ledger case after all.
Days after a formal statement from the twin's rep proclaiming her innocence and insisting Olsen has fully cooperated with the Drug Enforcement Administration's investigation into how Ledger obtained medications sans prescription, E! News has confirmed a subpoena with the star's name on it is ready and waiting to be delivered.
"It was dated and signed on April 23, but it has not been enforced yet," says a federal law-enforcement source, denying reports circulating earlier today that Olsen had already been served.
"We are still in negotiations. There are still negotiations with Mary-Kate's lawyer and also with our U.S. Attorney's Office, the prosecutors."
Mary-Kate Mum on Heath…to a Point
Jim Spellman/WireImage.com, Nick Harvey/WireImage.com
Mary-Kate Olsen is, and isn't, talking about Heath Ledger.
As E! News confirmed a report that the moneyed former child star is seeking immunity before talking to federal investigators probing Ledger's fatal overdose, Olsen's lawyer released a statement that makes the 22-year-old's message loud and clear.
"Despite tabloid speculation, Mary-Kate Olsen has nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger's home or his body, and does not know where he obtained them," said Olsen attorney Michael C. Miller.
Titanic's Been Unsinkable...Until Dark Knight?
Warner Brothers, Paramount
Ten years after sailing off with $600.8 million, Titanic remains the top-grossing movie of all-time, a title which, up until The Dark Knight onslaught, hasn't been seriously challenged.
Why?
Statistically speaking, says Jeffrey Simonoff, borrowing a famous line from screenwriter William Goldman, "Nobody knows."
"Many people have noted if the stock market is a high-risk market, the movies is far riskier," says Simonoff, professor of statistics at New York University's Stern School of Business.
Huge opening weekends and great buzz certainly increase a movie's odds of making lots and lots of money, but beyond that, Simonoff argues, it's all guesswork.
No Such Thing as Bad News for Dark Knight
Warner Bros. Entertainment.com
Can anything stop the Batman?
With The Dark Knight having blown past $200 million on Tuesday, just five days into its release, the answer apparently is no.
Steve Mason, lead box-office analyst for FantasyMoguls.com, said he thinks the movie will pick up another $70 million-$80 million this coming weekend, helping it blow past $300 million in less than 10 days.
"There's never been anything like it," Mason says via email.
The seemingly endless record grosses are coming despite a pair of offscreen incidents that, individually, have helped kill lesser movies: (1) the shocking death of one star and (2) the criminal allegations against another.
Update
The Dark Knight Reigns: $155.3 Mil Weekend
Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros. Entertainment
Spider-Man Batman forever.
The Dark Knight chased Spider-Man 3 from the record books with a $155.3 opening weekend gross, per Exhibitor Relations Co. estimates today.
The figure capped three days of eye-popping figures for the Christopher Nolan film. The highlights:
- The Dark Knight made more money in Friday midnight screenings ($18.5 million) than its predecessor, Batman Begins, made in any one day.
- The Dark Knight made more money in one day ($66.4 million on Friday) than Batman Begins made in any one weekend.
- The Dark Knight made about as much money in its second-biggest day ($48 million on Saturday) as Batman Begins made in its biggest weekend ($48.7 million).
Dark Knight's Record Midnight Madness
Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros. Entertainment
So goes Plano, Texas, so goes the movie nation: The Dark Knight is one hot ticket.
The latest Batman movie, inspiring thousands of sold-out screenings and countless desperate hunts for seats, grossed a record $18.5 million at midnight screenings, studio estimates said today.
"That's just a portion of the day," marveled Media by the Numbers' box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian.
"I think this could break a lot of records," he said. "Yesterday, I was hedging my bets, but now all bets are off."
Dark Knight Rises; Will Spider-Man 3 Fall?
Warner Brothers
At midnight, it comes. With expectations fueled by hundreds of advance sellouts, glorious reviews and Oscar buzz.
The Dark Knight, box-office experts say assuredly, is a $100 million opening-weekend lock—a feat requiring a take of at least $1.4 million every hour for 72 straight hours, a feat accomplished by only 10 movies in Hollywood history.
So far.
"It's just a ripped movie," says Media by the Numbers's Paul Dergarabedian of the latest Batman adventure. "It's not just a superhero movie. It is a crime epic...It kind of transcends that superhero moniker."
Dark Knight Mania: Maggie Goes Deep, Talks Heath
Big week for Batman, and star Maggie Gyllenhaal has obviously thought about The Dark Knight even more than the rest of us. She tells me why the movie goes far beyond just "fun," and she shares what it's like filming one of the scariest scenes with Heath Ledger. Check the clip to get the full story.
And if you missed 'em, catch my interviews with the rest of the cast—and director Christopher Nolan—after the jump.
Beat Ben @ the Box Office: A Giant Gotham Gross?
Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros. Entertainment
Finally! It's here! Starting tonight, The Dark Knight invades more than 4,300 screens—many of them IMAX—bringing the return of Batman, one of the most beloved characters in American pop culture.
After Christopher Nolan teamed with Christian Bale to relaunch the franchise in 2005, there's been new interest in the billionaire vigilante. And that, combined with the truly breathtaking performance from the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, has created a hysteria around the film. Midnight screenings are sold out and theaters are adding hourly showings from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
So look for The Dark Knight to pull in a weekend total of $112 million. Only reason I'm not calling it higher is because it's not a holiday, kids are still away at camp, and Hancock, Hellboy II and WALL-E will still put up strong numbers.
What do you think? Can Bruce Wayne close an even bigger deal? Drop your numbers in the comments!
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