Movies
Universal Loses on ‘Dark Tower’ Quick Draw?
Did Universal bite off more than they could chew? Did they take on a project too big for their bridges? Are they gonna lose their hat, or will the bullet go right into the middle of their forehead?
Uni’s Dark Tower movie trilogy and interlocking TV series, seen as a hugely ambitious project from the start, may wind up being too big for the studio’s appetite, writes Variety.
Sources tell Variety that in the past few days, the project, based on Stephen King’s sweeping seven-book-and-counting series, has run into budgetary complications that have caused Universal execs to rethink original plans. Insiders expect U brass to meet in coming days to decide whether to put the project into turnaround, whereby producer Imagine Entertainment could shop it to another studio, either to partner with Universal or take over entirely.
YIKES.
Although, to be clear, sources tell Variety that as of Thursday, Universal is moving ahead as if the project is going forward. Full story inside.
Via Variety:
Ron Howard unveiled plans in September to adapt “The Dark Tower” for three films — at least the first of which he plans to direct — bridged by a pair of TV series. Universal soon came on as a distributor, given Imagine’s production deal with the studio; NBC (or an affiliated cable net) was expected carry the TV component.
Javier Bardem’s deal to play the lead role of Roland Deschain is nearly closed, while Howard is still eyeing thesps for other roles. Howard and Brian Grazer are producing through Imagine, while Akiva Goldsman is set to write the script.
With a project of this size and scope, it wouldn’t be unusual for any studio to weigh its risk-sharing options — or pulling out — at this stage of development. And “Dark Tower” isn’t the only major project that Universal has recently reconsidered. “At the Mountains of Madness,” which had Guillermo del Toro set to direct and Tom Cruise circling to star, was scrapped on the brink of lensing after U calculated that it would struggle to make money with its $150 million budget and R rating.
That project went into hibernation in March, not long after the newly minted NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke was in Universal City for meetings with NBC and Universal Pictures brass.
King’s “Dark Tower” epic has been long pursued for screen adaptation, but the series’ length and scope — rooted in a post-Apocalyptic realm resembling the Old West as well a parallel modern-day world — has been a tough nut to crack for scripting and production planning. Before Imagine announced its adaptation plans, J.J. Abrams and “Lost” co-creator exec producer Damon Lindelof had optioned rights from King for $19 (a key number in the “Tower” universe). But they weren’t able to find a take on the material that satisfied their ambitions.
Nonetheless, the Imagine team and U felt confident they had a workable vision. In announcing their plans for “Dark Tower,” companies set a May 17, 2013 target date for release of the first film.
The killer tomatoes are back in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, and the offiical poster for the brand new movie has been unleashed tonight.
Additionally, we’ve learned that the film’s theatrical release is set for this August, with a panel set for San Diego Comic-Con this month featuring the world premiere of the trailer.
While you wait, check out the official poster down below.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence will be released in select cities across the US beginning August 7th in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, and others, and expanding to further locations throughout the month.
The fifth installment in the horror-comedy franchise pits the eternal power of nature against AI’s best and brightest.
In Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, a young biotech prodigy develops a revolutionary genetically engineered vegetable designed to solve humanity’s problems. But when the experiment spirals out of control, it unleashes a new generation of killer tomatoes, setting the stage for another outrageous chapter in the long-running cult franchise.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes co-creators Costa Dillon and J. Stephen Peace return to write and executive produce. David Ferino directs.
The film features an ensemble cast led by franchise icon John Astin (The Addams Family), reprising his role as Professor Gangreen, comedy legend David Koechner (Anchorman), Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), horror favorite Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), comedy veteran Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance), Vernée Watson (Shrinking, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), and Paul Bates (Coming to America).
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes launched in 1979, followed by 1988’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes, 1991’s Killer Tomatoes Strike Back, and 1992’s Killer Tomatoes Eat France.
The franchise also spawned an animated series in 1990.
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