THE MARKET: “Leatherheads” goes into wide release on Friday, April 4, 2008. How much will it gross in its opening weekend as first reported by Variety on April 6? Each dollar of the share price represents millions of dollars in sales. Shares bought at $15, for example, would be worth $39 if the movie grosses $39 million. Trading closes April 4 at 9 a.m., ET.

THE LOWDOWN: Will Ferrell has spoofed most every sport in existence, recently doing it with a period-piece spin in “Semi-Pro.” George Clooney combines both elements as well in “Leatherheads,” a farce about old-school pro football in northern Minnesota. Clooney has gone all-in on the project, co-writing, directing, and taking the leading role. “Semi-Pro” proved to be a major disappointment with a $15m opening weekend. Will “Leatherheads” score?

THE PR:The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the scoop on the in-state farce: “Clooney plays an aging player-coach who aims to revitalize his team, the Duluth Bulldogs, by getting a celebrated young Princeton football hero/war hero (John Krasinski) to join the team, build attendance, and boost revenue. Complications ensue when a female Chicago Tribune reporter (Zellweger), working on an expose about the college gridiron star, finds herself embroiled in a romantic triangle.”


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See the “Leatherheads” home page.



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