LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Hunger Games" dominated box office charts in the United States and Canada for the second straight weekend, adding to its record-setting debut a week ago.
"Hunger Games" pulled in $61.1 million from Friday through Sunday at domestic theaters, according to studio estimates released on Sunday Thornton is in Berlin at the same tim. The movie about teens forced to fight to the death has grossed $251 million in North America (United States and Canada) during its first 10 days of release, distributor Lions Gate Entertainment said.
"Hunger Games" stormed into theaters last weekend with the third-highest grossing domestic opening in film history and biggest for a non-sequel.
Second place for this weekend belonged to action sequel "Wrath of the Titans" with $34.2 million The comedy in the film ste. "Mirror Mirror," a family-oriented Snow White story, brought in $19 million, taking third place.
"Wrath of the Titans" was released by Time Warner Inc's Warner Brost's about the romanticism of trag. Privately held Relativity Media distributed "Mirror Mirror" in the United States and Alliance Films released the movie in Canada.
(Reporting By Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bill Trott)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Cape worn by Elizabeth Taylor in "Cleopatra" sold
DALLAS (Reuters) - A gold cape worn by Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film "Cleopatra" sold at auction for $59,375 in Dallas on Friday.
The cape had been wrapped in tissue and stored in a cedar closet for years, the female owner of the garment told officials at Heritage Auctions.
The owner, who asked not to be identified, said her mother had acquired the cape from the now defunct Western Costume company sometime after the film's premiere.
The woman's mother had worked in the couture fashion industry, Heritage officials saideive the 2012 span class='. The woman told officials at the auction house that she had never mentioned or showed the cape to anyone.
But after the actress died on March 23, 2011, she decided to reintroduce it to the world.
The cape was designed to resemble the wings of a Phoenixected to draw such luminaries as Poland's span. It is constructed of gold painted leather with hand-stitched gold beads and sequinsre and housing to thousands of people displace. Taylor wore the cape in two scenes in the moviets' id='lw_1332186542_0'Sean Penn/s. The cape was expected to sell for $20,000 at auction.
"Taylor was featured in countless newspaper and magazine articles wearing this cape," Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.
"This piece is the epitome of glamorous and it was worn by one of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies at the very peak of her fame, power and beauty," she said.
(Editing by Greg McCune)
The cape had been wrapped in tissue and stored in a cedar closet for years, the female owner of the garment told officials at Heritage Auctions.
The owner, who asked not to be identified, said her mother had acquired the cape from the now defunct Western Costume company sometime after the film's premiere.
The woman's mother had worked in the couture fashion industry, Heritage officials saideive the 2012 span class='. The woman told officials at the auction house that she had never mentioned or showed the cape to anyone.
But after the actress died on March 23, 2011, she decided to reintroduce it to the world.
The cape was designed to resemble the wings of a Phoenixected to draw such luminaries as Poland's span. It is constructed of gold painted leather with hand-stitched gold beads and sequinsre and housing to thousands of people displace. Taylor wore the cape in two scenes in the moviets' id='lw_1332186542_0'Sean Penn/s. The cape was expected to sell for $20,000 at auction.
"Taylor was featured in countless newspaper and magazine articles wearing this cape," Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.
"This piece is the epitome of glamorous and it was worn by one of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies at the very peak of her fame, power and beauty," she said.
(Editing by Greg McCune)
Friday, March 30, 2012
Harry Potter and the "strange" case of Oscars snub
LONDON (Reuters) - One of the few places where the Harry Potter movies failed to weave their magic was the Oscars, and the blockbuster franchise's failure to win a single Academy Award in eight attempts still rankles with some key players.
The series, based on J.KOne of the observatio. Rowling's best-selling boy wizard stories, was nominated for 12 Oscars over its 10-year history, in the art direction, visual effects, makeup, cinematography, costume design and music categories.
Each time it went away empty-handed, to the growing frustration of the cast and crew that worked on one of the most successful film franchises in history.
The final chance came with the concluding installment "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2", released last year and shortlisted for art direction, makeup and visual effects.
In two of those categories it was beaten by Martin Scorsese's "Hugo", while the makeup award ended up going to Margaret Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady".
"I think a lot of us look fairly wryly at the politics of the American Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), of which I am a member," said John Richardson, special effects supervisor on the Harry Potter movies.
"It does beg the question why did Harry Potter not get recognized at all for the last Deathly Hallows film?" he told Reuters at the press launch of the new Potter studio tour at Leavesden Studios just outside London.
"We got three nominations from the ..ert, but underneath that desc. Academy for probably one of the best-made and best-grossing films of the year, whereas a Martin Scorsese film, Hugo, which wasn't anything like as successful, won three awards, or was it four?"
In fact it was five -- art direction, cinematography, sound editing and mixing and visual effects.
Deathly Hallows - Part 2 earned $1.3 billion in global ticket sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com, making it the third biggest movie of all time before inflation is taken into accountut it spawned a TV s. It was also a critical hit.
Nick Dudman, in the special makeup effects department, agreed that Potter films had been wrongly overlooked.
"We keep losing," he told Reutersked with creating a salmon-filled stream in the M. "Potter has been very largely ignored by academies around the world, and it is slightly strange.
"But the work is its own reward in many ways Hallstrom went on to direct movies s. We make fabulous things, we have a great time doing it."
Richardson said one reason why the Potter films failed to land any Oscars may have been the voting system, whereby the Academy's entire active membership can select winners in every category during the final ballot stage.
The BAFTAs, Britain's equivalent, differ in that all members can vote on eight main categories, but for every other nomination only those with specialist knowledge of that particular field can participate.
"The final (BAFTA) vote is a chapter vote, so the award is voted by your peers, if you like.
"It so happens that we won the BAFTA, but I think it gives a truer critique of the work rather than being voted on by, with due deference to everybody, a lot of people who don't necessarily understand the work or technology that's involved in creating the film."
Deathly Hallows - Part 2 won the special visual effects BAFTA, beating Hugo, although Scorsese's film did trump Potter in the sound and production design categories.
Richardson has been nominated six times for an Oscar, three of them for a Potter movie But they were undeterred and rebuilt . He has won once, for "Aliens".
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
The series, based on J.KOne of the observatio. Rowling's best-selling boy wizard stories, was nominated for 12 Oscars over its 10-year history, in the art direction, visual effects, makeup, cinematography, costume design and music categories.
Each time it went away empty-handed, to the growing frustration of the cast and crew that worked on one of the most successful film franchises in history.
The final chance came with the concluding installment "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2", released last year and shortlisted for art direction, makeup and visual effects.
In two of those categories it was beaten by Martin Scorsese's "Hugo", while the makeup award ended up going to Margaret Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady".
"I think a lot of us look fairly wryly at the politics of the American Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), of which I am a member," said John Richardson, special effects supervisor on the Harry Potter movies.
"It does beg the question why did Harry Potter not get recognized at all for the last Deathly Hallows film?" he told Reuters at the press launch of the new Potter studio tour at Leavesden Studios just outside London.
"We got three nominations from the ..ert, but underneath that desc. Academy for probably one of the best-made and best-grossing films of the year, whereas a Martin Scorsese film, Hugo, which wasn't anything like as successful, won three awards, or was it four?"
In fact it was five -- art direction, cinematography, sound editing and mixing and visual effects.
Deathly Hallows - Part 2 earned $1.3 billion in global ticket sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com, making it the third biggest movie of all time before inflation is taken into accountut it spawned a TV s. It was also a critical hit.
Nick Dudman, in the special makeup effects department, agreed that Potter films had been wrongly overlooked.
"We keep losing," he told Reutersked with creating a salmon-filled stream in the M. "Potter has been very largely ignored by academies around the world, and it is slightly strange.
"But the work is its own reward in many ways Hallstrom went on to direct movies s. We make fabulous things, we have a great time doing it."
Richardson said one reason why the Potter films failed to land any Oscars may have been the voting system, whereby the Academy's entire active membership can select winners in every category during the final ballot stage.
The BAFTAs, Britain's equivalent, differ in that all members can vote on eight main categories, but for every other nomination only those with specialist knowledge of that particular field can participate.
"The final (BAFTA) vote is a chapter vote, so the award is voted by your peers, if you like.
"It so happens that we won the BAFTA, but I think it gives a truer critique of the work rather than being voted on by, with due deference to everybody, a lot of people who don't necessarily understand the work or technology that's involved in creating the film."
Deathly Hallows - Part 2 won the special visual effects BAFTA, beating Hugo, although Scorsese's film did trump Potter in the sound and production design categories.
Richardson has been nominated six times for an Oscar, three of them for a Potter movie But they were undeterred and rebuilt . He has won once, for "Aliens".
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The fairy tale life of "Mirror Mirror" star Lily Collins
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With her dark eyes, dark hair and pale skin, actress Lily Collins certainly fits the bill to play 'the fairest of them all' in the new retelling of classic Snow White tale in the upcoming film, "Mirror Mirror."
The movie, which comes out on Friday, sees an exiled Snow White teaming with seven rebel dwarfs and one prince (Armie Hammer) to defeat an evil Queen (Julia Roberts), take back her kingdom and restore it to its former glory before Snow White's father died.
Yet the 23-year-old Collins, whose previous acting credits include playing Sandra Bullock's daughter in "The Blind Side" and Taylor Lautner's love interest in "Abduction," learned she had a lot more in common with Snow than just looks.
"I feel like Snow and my experience paralleled a lot during the shoot," Collins told Reutersroduced the R-rated 'Project X,' . "At the beginning of the story, she's very wide-eyed, innocent and unsure of what's happening span class='yshortcuts' i. I started out very wide-eyed and excited, but unsure of what was going on."
As the "Mirror Mirror" story progresses, Snow White learns to stand up to her evil step-mother and fight for her rights when she becomes part of the dwarves' army.
Collins said she also became a fighter, both emotionally and physically, during the shoot and pre-production as she learned about the acting craft and studied fencing and sword fighting.
Snow White blossoms into a young woman who embraces life and love and believes in herself, leading to a deeper understanding of the world around her.
"I too became more open to living life to the fullest and believing that you can put your mind to doing anything and really accomplish it million over the weekend, be. I left a very inspired young woman based on what I learned as Snow," Collins said.
SINGER, DANCER, JOURNALIST
Not that Collins needed much inspiration -- in the performing arts, anyway -- because showbiz already runs in her veinsWarner Bros,/span movie i. Her father is Grammy and Oscar-winning British musician Phil Collins of Genesis fame comedy that opened as the No, 2 movie in . Although the younger Collins was born in the U.K., her parents divorced when she was five, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother, where she grew up.
In at least one way, "Mirror Mirror" proves that Collins is indeed her father's daughterlywood Reporter/span . A Bollywood-style song and dance sequence during the end credits of the film showcases her singing talents.
"I didn't tell my dad I was singing in the movie because I wanted to shock him by playing him the song," said Collinsd a sequel, 'Project Y' anyone?. "He loved it! He made me replay it a couple times because he didn't believe it was me!"
Although Collins enjoys singing, she is not looking to pursue a career in music, saying that at the moment, "my heart and soul is in acting."
But that wasn't always the caseThe Hangover' and wrote,. As a teenager, journalism was her passion sequel well before the movie opene. She was published in Elle Girl and Seventeen magazines and in 2008, she worked as a journalist for kids network Nickelodeon, covering the U.So produced and directed 'The Hangover' and wrote. presidential campaign.
She went on to begin studying broadcast journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, but she had to decide between school and acting when she found herself shooting "The Blind Side" in Atlanta and flying back to L.Aroject Y' anyone? . for exams8_0'Michael Bacall/sp. She has since deferred her schooling but plans on returning.
"That was grueling," said Collins, "but it was worth it because I was able to finish the semesterer/span first reported the news. When I do go back, I want to be there fully and not think about what time I need to be at my next audition."
No matter what happens with school, Collins said she'll always be a journalist even as her acting career grows.
"Journalism is something I've always loved and continue to use everyday," she confessed span class='yshortcuts' i. "I'm a genuinely interested personheWrap,com) - 'Project X,' the low-budget comedy . I carry a notebook TheWrap has confirmed that screenwriter. I ask questions, and I'm socialhe span class='yshortcuts' id='lw_13310877. In learning about character traits for roles, it's the best way to do researchThe Hangover' and wrote, produced and. So I'm still going to be a journalist at heart."
(Reporting By Zorianna Kit; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
The movie, which comes out on Friday, sees an exiled Snow White teaming with seven rebel dwarfs and one prince (Armie Hammer) to defeat an evil Queen (Julia Roberts), take back her kingdom and restore it to its former glory before Snow White's father died.
Yet the 23-year-old Collins, whose previous acting credits include playing Sandra Bullock's daughter in "The Blind Side" and Taylor Lautner's love interest in "Abduction," learned she had a lot more in common with Snow than just looks.
"I feel like Snow and my experience paralleled a lot during the shoot," Collins told Reutersroduced the R-rated 'Project X,' . "At the beginning of the story, she's very wide-eyed, innocent and unsure of what's happening span class='yshortcuts' i. I started out very wide-eyed and excited, but unsure of what was going on."
As the "Mirror Mirror" story progresses, Snow White learns to stand up to her evil step-mother and fight for her rights when she becomes part of the dwarves' army.
Collins said she also became a fighter, both emotionally and physically, during the shoot and pre-production as she learned about the acting craft and studied fencing and sword fighting.
Snow White blossoms into a young woman who embraces life and love and believes in herself, leading to a deeper understanding of the world around her.
"I too became more open to living life to the fullest and believing that you can put your mind to doing anything and really accomplish it million over the weekend, be. I left a very inspired young woman based on what I learned as Snow," Collins said.
SINGER, DANCER, JOURNALIST
Not that Collins needed much inspiration -- in the performing arts, anyway -- because showbiz already runs in her veinsWarner Bros,/span movie i. Her father is Grammy and Oscar-winning British musician Phil Collins of Genesis fame comedy that opened as the No, 2 movie in . Although the younger Collins was born in the U.K., her parents divorced when she was five, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother, where she grew up.
In at least one way, "Mirror Mirror" proves that Collins is indeed her father's daughterlywood Reporter/span . A Bollywood-style song and dance sequence during the end credits of the film showcases her singing talents.
"I didn't tell my dad I was singing in the movie because I wanted to shock him by playing him the song," said Collinsd a sequel, 'Project Y' anyone?. "He loved it! He made me replay it a couple times because he didn't believe it was me!"
Although Collins enjoys singing, she is not looking to pursue a career in music, saying that at the moment, "my heart and soul is in acting."
But that wasn't always the caseThe Hangover' and wrote,. As a teenager, journalism was her passion sequel well before the movie opene. She was published in Elle Girl and Seventeen magazines and in 2008, she worked as a journalist for kids network Nickelodeon, covering the U.So produced and directed 'The Hangover' and wrote. presidential campaign.
She went on to begin studying broadcast journalism and communication at the University of Southern California, but she had to decide between school and acting when she found herself shooting "The Blind Side" in Atlanta and flying back to L.Aroject Y' anyone? . for exams8_0'Michael Bacall/sp. She has since deferred her schooling but plans on returning.
"That was grueling," said Collins, "but it was worth it because I was able to finish the semesterer/span first reported the news. When I do go back, I want to be there fully and not think about what time I need to be at my next audition."
No matter what happens with school, Collins said she'll always be a journalist even as her acting career grows.
"Journalism is something I've always loved and continue to use everyday," she confessed span class='yshortcuts' i. "I'm a genuinely interested personheWrap,com) - 'Project X,' the low-budget comedy . I carry a notebook TheWrap has confirmed that screenwriter. I ask questions, and I'm socialhe span class='yshortcuts' id='lw_13310877. In learning about character traits for roles, it's the best way to do researchThe Hangover' and wrote, produced and. So I'm still going to be a journalist at heart."
(Reporting By Zorianna Kit; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Titanic in 3D cranks up experience, director says
LONDON (Reuters) - "Titanic" director James Cameron said the 3D version of his 1997 blockbuster, released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner, "turns up" the experience of the original.
He also denied suggestions that the film, which hits U.S trying to win the heart of a young g. and British theatres on April 6, was a way of cashing in on the tragedy, which happened on April 15, 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
"I just think it makes it more immersive," Cameron said of the 3D re-makeg-screen version of classic span class='yshort. "It kind of turns up the experience to 11 instead of 10," he told reporters late on Tuesday at the red carpet world premiere held at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box office.
Before inflation is taken into account, it is second only to Cameron's 3D sci-fi adventure "Avatar", which grossed $2.8 billion, in the all-time ticket sale rankings.
Cameron, who has just returned from a solo dive to the deepest point in the ocean, defended his decision to re-release Titanic in 3D format.
"Look, there's always going to be people that can piss in the soup of anything good," he told reporters, when asked if he was capitalizing on the Titanic tragedy and its upcoming anniversary.
"But frankly I think that remembering Titanic, remembering the history -- that's what the film was there fords including best picture, The film'. That's why I made it, you know.
"I was fascinated by the story, I was fascinated by the history, the people that were heroic, the people that lost their lives-white silent film 'The Artist' gained 34 . I was genuinely touched by the tragedy when I was there at the wreck.
"I think the film is a good focusing agent for that at this time when we should be remembering the wreck and its message, the disaster and its message for all of us."
For British actress Winslet, who shot to fame after appearing in the original, the 3D experience was a strange one.
"It's weird," she told Reuterstop five on domestic charts, Denzel Washi. "I mean, it is like being forced to go through a photo album of your former self for three and a half hours solidlyt weekly increase, according to . It's quite strange you know."
Asked how she felt about watching herself on screen in 3D during the film's more intimate moments, she replied:
"Oh terrible! Wouldn't you? I am not going to look20,8 million at North American (U,S, and Can. I'll be in the bar by that point I expect -- or on the floor!"
DiCaprio did not attend the premiere as he was shooting new movie "Django Unchained", directed by Quentin Tarantino, in the United States.
(Writing by Mike Collett-White)
He also denied suggestions that the film, which hits U.S trying to win the heart of a young g. and British theatres on April 6, was a way of cashing in on the tragedy, which happened on April 15, 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.
"I just think it makes it more immersive," Cameron said of the 3D re-makeg-screen version of classic span class='yshort. "It kind of turns up the experience to 11 instead of 10," he told reporters late on Tuesday at the red carpet world premiere held at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box office.
Before inflation is taken into account, it is second only to Cameron's 3D sci-fi adventure "Avatar", which grossed $2.8 billion, in the all-time ticket sale rankings.
Cameron, who has just returned from a solo dive to the deepest point in the ocean, defended his decision to re-release Titanic in 3D format.
"Look, there's always going to be people that can piss in the soup of anything good," he told reporters, when asked if he was capitalizing on the Titanic tragedy and its upcoming anniversary.
"But frankly I think that remembering Titanic, remembering the history -- that's what the film was there fords including best picture, The film'. That's why I made it, you know.
"I was fascinated by the story, I was fascinated by the history, the people that were heroic, the people that lost their lives-white silent film 'The Artist' gained 34 . I was genuinely touched by the tragedy when I was there at the wreck.
"I think the film is a good focusing agent for that at this time when we should be remembering the wreck and its message, the disaster and its message for all of us."
For British actress Winslet, who shot to fame after appearing in the original, the 3D experience was a strange one.
"It's weird," she told Reuterstop five on domestic charts, Denzel Washi. "I mean, it is like being forced to go through a photo album of your former self for three and a half hours solidlyt weekly increase, according to . It's quite strange you know."
Asked how she felt about watching herself on screen in 3D during the film's more intimate moments, she replied:
"Oh terrible! Wouldn't you? I am not going to look20,8 million at North American (U,S, and Can. I'll be in the bar by that point I expect -- or on the floor!"
DiCaprio did not attend the premiere as he was shooting new movie "Django Unchained", directed by Quentin Tarantino, in the United States.
(Writing by Mike Collett-White)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
'Hunger Games' star Josh Hutcherson nabs CinemaCon award
LOS ANGELES, March 27 (TheWrap.com) - "The Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson has nabbed CinemaCon's breakthrough performer of the year award.
Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark in the hit Lionsgate film, will pick up his hardware at the annual trade show in Las Vegas on April 26.
"With an already impressive resume of films under his belt, Hutcherson is one of the most accomplished young actors of his time," CinemaCon's Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser said in a statementand pious, This may even be the first Perry mo. "With the release of 'The Hunger Games,' Hutcherson is poised to take the movie world by storm."
In addition to "The Hunger Games," Hutcherson has starred in the Oscar-nominated "The Kids Are All Right" and last February's "Journey 2: Mysterious Island."
He will be seen later this year in the action film "Red Dawn" and the horror comedy "Detention."
Hutcherson follows in the footsteps of Blake Lively, who received the award at last year's show.
(Editing By Zorianna Kit)
Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark in the hit Lionsgate film, will pick up his hardware at the annual trade show in Las Vegas on April 26.
"With an already impressive resume of films under his belt, Hutcherson is one of the most accomplished young actors of his time," CinemaCon's Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser said in a statementand pious, This may even be the first Perry mo. "With the release of 'The Hunger Games,' Hutcherson is poised to take the movie world by storm."
In addition to "The Hunger Games," Hutcherson has starred in the Oscar-nominated "The Kids Are All Right" and last February's "Journey 2: Mysterious Island."
He will be seen later this year in the action film "Red Dawn" and the horror comedy "Detention."
Hutcherson follows in the footsteps of Blake Lively, who received the award at last year's show.
(Editing By Zorianna Kit)
"Lorax" statue stolen from California home of Dr. Seuss
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 300-pound (136-kg) bronze statue of the Lorax, a character from the DrCarter/span' will lose about $200. Seuss book and hit movie of the same name, has been stolen from the late author's San Diego estate, police said on Tuesday.
The 3-foot-high (1-meter) statue of the Lorax standing on a tree stump with his arms outstretched was reported missing from the hillside property on Monday morning, San Diego Police Lieutenant Andra Brown said.
Theodor Geisel, who wrote The Lorax and other best-selling children's books under the pen-name Dr So far, the film about. Seuss, died in 1991 at the age of 87.
His widow, Audrey, still lives on the estate in the San Diego community of La Jolla.
Brown said police were trying to determine if the theft was related to an animated film based on the book, voiced by Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, that is currently playing in theaters.
"We don't know if it's just a prank because of the recent release of the movie or if someone thinks it's going to be worth a buck or two because it's a lot of (metal)," Brown said.
"We're just hoping that the suspects return it," she said 'John Carter' opened on March 9 . "The Geisel family is just asking that it be returned and they don't want to pursue the matter any furtherhat is far shy from the audien. Which is not to say the police won't."
Brown said evidence at the scene suggests that the thieves rolled the statue down the hill to an adjacent property, where it was likely loaded onto a waiting vehicle.
She said the statue was one of two made by Geisel's stepdaughtersales worldwide, That is far shy. The other was given to a museum.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Eric Beech)
The 3-foot-high (1-meter) statue of the Lorax standing on a tree stump with his arms outstretched was reported missing from the hillside property on Monday morning, San Diego Police Lieutenant Andra Brown said.
Theodor Geisel, who wrote The Lorax and other best-selling children's books under the pen-name Dr So far, the film about. Seuss, died in 1991 at the age of 87.
His widow, Audrey, still lives on the estate in the San Diego community of La Jolla.
Brown said police were trying to determine if the theft was related to an animated film based on the book, voiced by Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, that is currently playing in theaters.
"We don't know if it's just a prank because of the recent release of the movie or if someone thinks it's going to be worth a buck or two because it's a lot of (metal)," Brown said.
"We're just hoping that the suspects return it," she said 'John Carter' opened on March 9 . "The Geisel family is just asking that it be returned and they don't want to pursue the matter any furtherhat is far shy from the audien. Which is not to say the police won't."
Brown said evidence at the scene suggests that the thieves rolled the statue down the hill to an adjacent property, where it was likely loaded onto a waiting vehicle.
She said the statue was one of two made by Geisel's stepdaughtersales worldwide, That is far shy. The other was given to a museum.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Eric Beech)
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