NEWS: Avatar Has a $500 Million Budget?

Recently, a New York Times article raised the question asking if a film like James Cameron’s Avatar, which as The Playlist points out, is a film that features no superstars, is an original idea, and is not based on a franchise, and if it will be able to rcoup it’s large budget.

How large you say?

How about $500 million large.

Shit, that's shocking enough just to type.

According to published reports, the production budget was listed at just above $230 million, however, the price tag doesn’t include financial contributions from Cameron and other contributors. With everything added, Avatar is set to cost those who backed it, roughly $500 million.

Now, that may seem like a big number for studio Fox, but they have a few backup plans.

First, the studio has brought in a pair of equity partners, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Media, who are going to essentially take up almost two thirds of the budget, and while that means lower profit for Fox, they also have a second ace up their sleeves, in the form of a trio of chipmunks. Here’s from the NYT article:

Taking no chances, Fox is backing up Mr. Cameron’s movie with what an executive recently called the studio’s “secret weapon. That would be “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel,” set to open just a week after studio marketers get “Avatar” into theaters. It is the relatively safe sequel to a chipper family comedy that cost about $60 million and took in $217 million at the domestic box office when it was released two years ago.

Finally, according to reports, Fox has made a part of Cameron’s contract that, if the film reached or exceeded $300 million, the film maker would have to wait to get paid, so that those funding the film, got a return first. It’s not that big of a deal since this IS the guy who did Titanic, so I’m sure money isn’t an issue for the guy, and it’s kind of interesting to see how Fox actually used their brains for a change.

However, what does this do for the film? Hell, back at $300 million, the film needed to be a MONSTER hit make it’s money back, but now, it looks like while I know over time that it will most likely make a few dollars back, it needs to break all kinds of records to get positive. However, it could very well do that, as not only do the TV spots look great, but I think along with a bit of Oscar buzz, at least from people I hear talking, I think this is going to be a bigger hit than people are thinking. It helps that it’s mainly going to be seen in 3-D, with ticket prices almost double that of non-3D screenings.

All I know is this is a risky project, and one that Fox seems to have known about before they picked it up.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Cowboy Bebop Too Expensive To Create?

Based on the newly printed script, it appears so.

Talkin with MTV News, Keanu Reeves has shined a bit brighter of a light on the upcoming live-action adaptation of the classic anime series, Cowboy Bebop. Reeves is slated to play the lead of Spike Spiegel, and in the interview that is burning up the web, Reeves states that there is indee a draft of the script that is floatng around, by Peter Craig, but it is far to expensive in concept to film. Reports are that the film would require a budget busting the bank right around Avatar propotions, at an alleged 500$ million mark, according to Fox Studios.

That said, the numbers are alwas speculative, so who honestly knows. I don't have the script in front of me, but honestly, this culd be done for right around 1 to 200$ million, if the right director got behind it. Actually, /Film has a few good options in their heads.

Unlike many fans of the series, I think Reeves could make for a decent Spike Spiegel if he loosens up a bit (though there are certainly better choices out there). The fate of this project will rest not so much in Reeves, but in whoever they get to direct. My current dream scenario is that Brick and The Brother’s Bloom director Rian Johnson gets involved. With his previous work, he’s proven that he can tackle noir and crime-caper stories— and the fact that he’s also an anime fan certainly doesn’t hurt. Francis Lawrence, who managed to turn Constantine into a fairly fun romp (and did a great job with a good chunk of I Am Legend), is another possibility.

If they got Rachel Weisz signed on as Faye Valentine, and perhaps Terrence Howard as Jet Black, I think they’d be well on their way to a decent adaptation. A Yoko Kanno score couldn’t hurt either. Unlike Akira, Bebop is a series that could work well as a live-action English film, so I’m hoping for the best with this project.

I could not have said that better, and honestly, I whole-heartedly agree, on all accounts. Reeves is a bad actor, but if he were to loosen up a little bit, this could be a great role for the much maligned thespian. Rian Johnson is my number one choice for film maker as well, as he is with any upcoming project.

Here's the clip from MTV News

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

What about you? What do YOU think?

Go see something good!

NEWS: Nolan's Inception To Get $200 Million Budget?

It appears so.

Coming off of the MONSTER that was The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's next project will not only be another big budget film, but will be roughly 15 million dollars MORE expensive than his 2 1/2 hour superhero epic.

According to The Calgary Sun, Nolan's Inception will be shooting in Canada in the coming months, and not only do the mention a couple of location details, but they also report that the budget will be in the ballpark of 200 million dollars - or closer to $176.5 million if that first amount is actually Canadian dollars. All of this comes with the public knowing NOTHING about the film itself.

The Sun also reports that Inception will be shot in five countries, with most of it's photography being done in Kananaskis, just outside of Calgary.

"Nolan scouted nearby foothills and mountainous areas by helicopter and is said to have chosen Fortress Mountain as the main Alberta location."

The shoot will feature "hundreds, if not thousands, of local film workers starting this summer when construction on the elaborate set is due to begin." Shooting is set to start in November.

The only thing that really anyone knows about the film is that it's a "contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind." Which, as FirstShowing so eloquently put it, means that no one knows anything about this film. Talk about secrecy. This must have J.J. Abrams freaking out right now, as he is the relative king of cinematic secrecy. I love this news, and I love how under wraps the project is. It's a breathe of fresh air in the current world of being pelted with 30 TV spots a day about Iron Man or Wolverine, showing every scene shot during the films production.

What about you? What do you think about Nolan getting this huge budget?

Go see something good!