(GettyImages)

Was the highest-grossing movie of all time based on a stolen idea?

That’s the argument behind a new lawsuit reportedly filed against Avatar writer and director James Cameron.

The award-winning filmmaker was allegedly pitched an “environmentally themed 3-D epic about a corporation’s colonization and plundering of a distant moon’s lush and wondrous natural setting” back in 1999.

Eric Ryder claims he had several meetings with Cameron’s production company about the potential project, until he was allegedly told in 2002 that no one would see such a film.

Ryder’s attempts to get recognition in 2009, when the record-breaking movie starring Sam Worthington was released, were reportedly rebuffed.

He is seeking unspecified damages, according to TMZ.

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(Universal)

Two very different thrillers are topping the box office this weekend.

The Roommate, starring Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester in some domestic mind games, debuted at #1 with $15.6 million.

Sanctum, the heart-stopping adventure flick produced by James Cameron, took second at $9.2 million.

And coming in third was No Strings Attached with $8.4 million.

The King’s Speech, and The Green Hornet were fourth and fifth place with $8.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Round out the Top Ten were The Rite ($5.5 million), The Mechanic ($5.3 million), True Grit ($4.7 million), The Dilemma ($3.4 million), and Black Swan ($3.4 million).

What did you see this weekend?

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(GettyImages.com)

In today’s lineup, Gandalf returns, 50 Cent earns, and James Cameron burns.

1. Ian McKellen has signed on for The Hobbit. (EW)

2. Dr. Drew gets a daytime show. (THR)

3. 50 Cent makes $8.7 million for tweeting. (NY Post)

4. James Cameron blasts Battleship movie. (Movieline)

5. Michelle Pfeiffer joins Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks in Welcome to People. (Deadline)

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(GettyImages.com)

James Cameron has signed with Fox to do both Avatar 2 and Avatar 3.

The films will come out in December 2014 and December 2015, respectively.

In a statement, Cameron says: “It is a rare and remarkable opportunity when a filmmaker gets to build a fantasy world, and watch it grow, with the resources and partnership of a global media company.”

He adds, “Avatar was conceived as an epic work of fantasy – a world that audiences could visit, across all media platforms, and this moment marks the launch of the next phase of that world…. Our goal is to meet and exceed the global audience’s expectations for the richness of Avatar’s visual world and the power of the storytelling. In the second and third films, which will be self contained stories that also fulfill a greater story arc, we will not back off the throttle of Avatar‘s visual and emotional horsepower, and will continue to explore its themes and characters, which touched the hearts of audiences in all cultures around the world.”

Cameron concludes, “I’m looking forward to returning to Pandora, a world where our imaginations can run wild.”

Are you psyched for Avatar 2 and 3?

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(Fox)

James Cameron could jump from the biggest theatrical release in history to the small screen.

The Avatar director is reportedly developing a television series based on his 1994 action hit True Lies, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. The plot revolved around computer salesman Harry Tasker, who doubled as a butt-kicking spy.

A potential series is being pitched to various networks, according to Deadline.

Cameron’s only previous foray into TV was Jessica Alba‘s “Dark Angel” sci-fi drama.

A television series based on Cameron’s hit Terminator franchise ran on FOX from 2008 to 2009.

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(GettyImages.com)

In today’s lineup, Snooki gets romantic, James Cameron gets wet, and Steven Slater‘s star gets even bigger.

1. Kat Von D gets close with Jesse James. (People)

2. Key witness in Mel Gibson domestic abuse case dies. (Radar)

3. Snooki smooches a new guy. (Us Magazine)

4. James Cameron is spending his birthday a mile underwater. (AP)

5. Flight attendant superstar Steven Slater has been offered a reality show. (TMZ)

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(GettyImages.com)

In today’s line up, James Cameron gets rich, Celine Dion gets boys, and Carrie Underwood’s friends get lost.

1. Jennifer Lopez is at the center of political controversy in the Mediterranean. (AP)

2. James Cameron will earn a record-setting fortune from Avatar. (Deadline)

3. Celine Dion is going to have twin boys. (People)

4. Melissa Etheridge left her ex with four dollars. (TMZ)

5. Carrie Underwood‘s wedding location is unknown… even to guests. (NY Post)

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(GettyImages.com)

In today’s line up, it’s pool time for Cristiano Ronaldo and a Kardashian, while “Gossip Girl” goes French.

1. “Gossip Girl” is filming on location in Paris right now. (TV Fanatic)

2. Kourtney Kardashian is considering swim lessons for infant Mason. (People)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo cuddles poolside with Irina Shayk in New York. (NY Post)

4. James Cameron helps Titanic actress celebrate her 100th birthday (LA Times)

5. Reese Witherspoon hangs out with Sean Penn at Malibu Fourth of July party. (PopSugar)

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With preliminary numbers in – and things will change a bit – it appears yesterday’s Oscars garnered about 14 percent more viewers than last year’s show.

It’s estimated that the total U.S. audience was approximately 41.3 million people, up from 36.3 million in 2009.

What do you think was the reason for the bigger ratings?

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(ABC)

Sunday night, of course, will be the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.

It should be a very interesting year, with an expanded field of ten Best Picture nominees, ex-spouses James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow battling for Best Director honors, and hype for newcomers like Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe.

Gossip Cop wants to know who YOU think should go home with Oscar in ten of the biggest categories. Vote below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter and GossipCop.com for continuing coverage of the awards.

(20th Century Fox)

There’s a new #1 at the all-time domestic box office.

Avatar has now made more than $601 million in North America, edging past director James Cameron‘s own Titanic, whose $600.8 million total occupied the top spot for twelve years.

The futuristic sci-fi spectacular is already the all-time #1 worldwide. It broke Titanic‘s domestic record late Tuesday, after just 47 days of release, and on the same day it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

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(20th Century Fox)

UPDATE – 1/31/10

The numbers are in, and they’re staggering.

Not only did Avatar win a seventh consecutive weekend – as projected – but its $95.1 million international take across 120 global markets pushes the blockbuster past $2 billion overall, even earlier than expected.

With $594.5 million (domestic) and $1.45 billion (overseas), the film has registered an astonishing $2.045 billion at the box office.

Avatar has now cracked the $100 million mark in China, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Spain are close behind.

*****    *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

ORIGINAL POST – 1/30/10

Early projections give Avatar a seventh straight weekend box office triumph.

The James Cameron sci-fi epic, already the all-time earnings champ, is rocketing toward the $600 million mark for domestic gross, as well as (gulp) $2 billion worldwide. It might pass both milestones in the next few days.

Avatar looks to tack approximately $28 million to its total by Sunday night. It had already passed $1.9 billion overall before the weekend even began.

The Mel Gibson comeback flick Edge of Darkness is expected to be in second place for the weekend, well behind Avatar if studio projections hold.

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(20th Century Fox)

It’s official.

This morning Avatar passed Titanic to become the all-time box office champion.

The sci-fi spectacular has just surpassed $1.8 billion worldwide, the total Titanic grossed back in 1997-98.

Yes, the new film’s grosses are aided by higher ticket prices for 3D screenings and inflation. But #1 is #1, and Avatar now holds the title.

Domestically, Titanic is still at the top with $600.8 million, but Avatar is on pace to earn that distinction shortly.

In other box office news, The Twilight Saga: New Moon has topped the $700 million mark worldwide.

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(20th Century Fox)

As we approach final box office tallies for the weekend, it looks like early estimates will hold. Avatar is set to take a sixth consecutive weekend, fending off Legion and others, and becoming the highest-grossing film in North American history after director James Cameron‘s own Titanic.

Projections give Avatar a $36 million weekend and a cumulative domestic box office north of $552 million.

The Harrison Ford film Extraordinary Measures bombed in its debut, finishing in seventh place.

Gossip Cop will keep tracking Avatar as it steams toward Titanic‘s #1 spot on both the all-time domestic and all-time worldwide box office charts.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates…

(20th Century Fox)

The victories keep piling up for James Cameron and Avatar.

The director’s sci-fi epic is poised to win a sixth consecutive weekend at the box office, according to estimates, and its cumulative domestic grosses will overtake The Dark Knight for the second-best total in North American history.

A slate of new movies including the supernatural Legion, kids pic The Tooth Fairy, and Harrison Ford vehicle Extraordinary Measures failed to knock Avatar from its throne. Projections see roughly $35 million over the weekend for the reigning champ, nearly twice that of second-place Legion.

Again, these are just estimates for now, but it looks like Avatar has stayed on top. We’ll update with final numbers when available…

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(20th Cnetury Fox)

The final numbers are in, and as predicted “Avatar” raked in $54.4 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, bringing its domestic total to $504.9 million.

“Avatar,” which had a big night at the Golden Globes, including a best film win, trails only “The Dark Knight” ($533 million) and “Titanic” ($600 million) on the all-time box office charts.

Internationally, “Avatar” has made $1.6 billion, second only to “Titanic,” which grossed $1.8 billion. 

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(PerezHilton.com)

Earlier today Gossip Cop reported that James Cameron‘s Avatar had won the box office for a fifth consecutive weekend, which it did.

While Avatar ceded Friday (narrowly) to The Book of Eli, starring Denzel Washington as a post-apocalyptic hero, actual box office results handed another big weekend at the #1 spot to the reigning sci-fi phenomenon.

Too bad Perez Hilton can’t quit his habit of copying and pasting stories before he even reads them.

Yes, the blogger once again goes light on facts and late on “news,” breathlessly posting, “Eli Kicks Avatar Off It’s (sic) High Horse,” and going on to claim, “if the numbers remain consistent throughout the weekend,” The Book of Eli would beat Avatar for the top spot.

Oops.

Just to reiterate: After everyone else named Avatar #1 based on Friday through Sunday numbers, Perez used Friday numbers to declare that Avatar’s reign had finally ended.

Again, oops.

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(20th Century Fox)

Avatar has hit $1.6 billion worldwide, creeping closer to the all-time box office champ, Titanic.

The James Cameron epic scored its fifth straight domestic box office win, earning $41.3 million in the three days beginning Friday. It should pass $500 million in North America on Monday.

It’s now the third-highest grossing domestic movie ever at $491.8 million, behind Titanic and The Dark Knight.

Aided by word of mouth, crossover appeal, higher 3D ticket prices, and staggering staying power into its second month, Avatar is now roughly $237 million behind Titanic for the all-time crown.

It took Titanic 98 days to reach the total Avatar has amassed in just thirty-two.

Gossip Cop will follow the numbers as they grow and grow and grow…

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(20th Century Fox)

UPDATE – 12:15PM 1/10/10

The receipts are in, and Avatar actually had a BETTER weekend than expected, pulling in $48.5 domestically to help raise its worldwide total to $1.34 BILLION.

With a “B.”

We’d say James Cameron‘s having a pretty good year.

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ORIGINAL POST – 1/9/09

An astounding box office run continues for Avatar, estimated to finish as the (easy) #1 at the box office for a fourth consecutive weekend.

Already the second-highest grossing movie of all time (worldwide) behind director James Cameron‘s own Titanic, the sci-fi epic raked in an estimated $13 million on Friday to kick start what looks to be a $46 million weekend. The film’s cumulative haul is expected to rise to roughly $425 million at the North American box office, overtaking Transformers: Rise of the Fallen as the top domestic movie released in 2009.

Meanwhile, the film is approaching $800 million overseas, edging closer to $1.2 billion overall.

Wow.

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(20th Century Fox)

Christmas keeps going and going for James Cameron.

Thanks to Avatar‘s unrelenting box office might over the holidays and into the new year, the director is set to have the two highest-grossing films in history in a few days from now.

That’s right — Avatar has not only topped $1 billion in worldwide receipts, but will soon snag the #2 spot in box office history, right below Cameron’s own Titanic.

Boosted by enormous overseas business and 3D ticket prices, the sci-fi epic has shot to the #4 spot already, with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest in its sights and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (the current #2) less than $100 million away.

Whether the film can come close to Titanic‘s mind-blowing $1.8 billion haul remains to be seen. But Avatar‘s blue aliens are seeing some serious green.

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In North America, the film made $68.3 million this weekend to bring its cumulative box office to $352.1 million, a staggering 17-day total that puts James Cameron‘s sci-fi blockbuster  – with its overseas take of $670 million — at more than $1 billion.

Wow!

The movie, which lost barely any money-making momentum between its first and second weekends, snagged the top spot again in its third week. After a big New Year’s Day Friday, strong word of mouth and higher 3D ticket prices kept it well above other strong performers including Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Four other films have made more than $1 billion worldwide — Cameron’s own Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest, and The Dark Knight.

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(20th Century Fox)

It was the biggest box-office ever for a weekend, and in the battle between “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes,” the futuristic film beat the one set in the past.

“Avatar” took the top spot, raking in $75 million. “Sherlock Holmes” followed with $65.4 million, though the Robert Downey, Jr. flick did set a record Christmas Day debut with a box office of $24.9 million.

James Cameron‘s “Avatar” was only down 3 percent drop from its opening weekend total of $77.4 million.

Pretty impressive all around.

Gossip Cop would like to know if you were at the movies this weekend. What did you see and what did you think?

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(Warner Bros.)

While Gossip Cop‘s visitors made it (overwhelmingly) clear that their Christmas love is for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” it looks like a wild box office weekend is going to come down to the wire between two blockbusters — one that looks to a Victorian past, and one that imagines an interplanetary future.

Early estimates have “Sherlock Holmes” and “Avatar” locked in a tight battle for 2009′s final weekend, with each film (currently) on track for about $70 million.

As of now, and it could change, “Sherlock Holmes” is edging out “Avatar.” According to Friday’s take, “Sherlock” made $24.9 million to $23.5 million for “Avatar.” It’ll be interesting to see who wins the Robert Downey, Jr. vs. James Cameron weekend clash.

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