Movies
[OMFG] Read Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier’s Unused Pitch For ‘Ghost Rider 2’!
Columbia Pictures’ Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D has been critically panned so bad that by the time it hit theaters many thought it was so-so. But the real fun of a film finally getting released is wondering what could have been, especially when it’s well-known that other talented filmmakers were nearly involved. Such the case with Todd Farmer, the writer of My Bloody Valentine, Jason X and Drive Angry 3D. The screenwriter took to his personal blog (one that I highly recommend subscribing to) where he revealed his treatment for the Marvel comic book sequel.
“During one of our many meetings, [Michael] De Luca, who had produced ‘Ghost Rider,’ suggested we [Farmer and Patrick Lussier] come up with a pitch for ‘Ghost Rider 2.’ We said yes with much enthusiasm. So Mike set a meeting with Avi Arad that we might meet and discuss the franchise,” he explains. “When we returned we were pumped. We had nailed it. It may seem arrogant to say that but DUH. Isn’t that the point? Why would you ever go back if you didn’t think you nailed it?” He continues: “We knew De Luca dug it. Later we heard that Sony loved it. But in the end Avi passed. He said it was too violent. Hate not getting the job but I’ll take TOO VIOLENT as the reason any day of the week.”
Want to read the pitch? Eh? I bet you do! Click here to download the treatment and then tell us what you think!
Movies
‘Abigail’ on Track for a Better Opening Weekend Than Universal’s Previous Two Vampire Attempts
In the wake of Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man back in 2020, Universal has been struggling to achieve further box office success with their Universal Monsters brand. Even in the early days of the pandemic, Invisible Man scared up $144 million at the worldwide box office, while last year’s Universal Monsters: Dracula movies The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield didn’t even approach that number when you COMBINE their individual box office hauls.
The horror-comedy Renfield came along first in April 2023, ending its run with just $26 million. The period piece Last Voyage of the Demeter ended its own run with a mere $21 million.
But Universal is trying again with their ballerina vampire movie Abigail this weekend, the latest bloodbath directed by the filmmakers known as Radio Silence (Ready or Not, Scream).
Unlike Demeter and Renfield, the early reviews for Abigail are incredibly strong, with our own Meagan Navarro calling the film “savagely inventive in terms of its vampiric gore,” ultimately “offering a thrill ride with sharp, pointy teeth.” Read her full review here.
That early buzz – coupled with some excellent trailers – should drive Abigail to moderate box office success, the film already scaring up $1 million in Thursday previews last night. Variety notes that Abigail is currently on track to enjoy a $12 million – $15 million opening weekend, which would smash Renfield ($8 million) and Demeter’s ($6 million) opening weekends.
Working to Abigail‘s advantage is the film’s reported $28 million production budget, making it a more affordable box office bet for Universal than the two aforementioned movies.
Stay tuned for more box office reporting in the coming days.
In Abigail, “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”
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