THR Universal has decided to shelf its plannedSnow White and the Huntsman sequel and is instead focusing on a solo Huntsman movie starring Chris Hemsworth.Kristen Stewart will not be invited to return if the follow-up goes forward.
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the sequel to June's Snow White, which starred Stewart, Hemsworth and Charlize Theron, is being reconceived as a spinoff movie. It's unclear whether directorRupert Sanders will return, though one source with ties to the production says he will. However, screenwriter David Koepp, who had been hired to pen the continuation of the original film, is being settled out of his rich contract, according to sources, as the project is being transformed into something other than the movie that Koepp had been hired to write.
"The studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise," a Universal spokeswoman says.
The move comes in the wake of Stewart, 22, and the married Sanders, 41, apologizing publicly for a romantic affair after compromising photos of the duo were published in July. (Stewart was dating her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.) While it might have been awkward for Stewart and Sanders to reunite for a sequel, it is not clear why the decision to move forward without Stewart was made.
It is highly unusual for Hollywood studios to drop stars of franchises between the first and second installments. The original plan, according to sources, was to make two films featuring the Snow White character and a third film spinning off the Huntsman, similar to how Fox's X-Men series has spun off Wolverine.
It's far from clear whether a Snow White follow-up will ever get made. The movie was a modest hit for Universal, grossing $389.2 million worldwide on a budget of about $170 million. But Stewart, one of Hollywood's top stars thanks to the Twilight franchise, commands a hefty salary. Declining to pick up her option would shave millions from the budget of a second movie.
Universal is looking for a new writer, and insiders hope to start filming in July when Hemsworth, who also stars in Marvel's Thor series, becomes available.
indiewire Whatever is going on in his personal life, Universal still believes in director Rupert Sanders, and, even more, they very much believe in Chris Hemsworth. As for Stewart? Maybe not so much. Deadline reveals that the already-developing "Snow White And The Huntsman" sequel is pulling back a bit, as decisions need to be made about whether it will be a direct follow-up, or a spinoff centered on Hemsworth. Now before KStew fans lose their marbles, it must be said that way back in April, this idea was already being toyed around with so it isn't exactly a shock. And add to that the fact that Hemsworth already leads a lucrative franchise in "Thor," is part of billion dollar "The Avengers" and stars in Ron Howard's "Rush" at the studio... if we were the accountants, he would seem to be the safer bet on his own. And certainly, everyone at Uni want to keep him happy and under their roof. But right now, there is no work being done until a firm decision is made on what direction the follow-up will take—and it should be noted that Sanders isn't optioned for the sequel (though, obviously, he's a contender).
But if he doesn't return for more 'Huntsman,' Universal has something else to keep him busy, snapping up the rights to the upcoming book "90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad From Hell" for him to direct. Penned by Dean Unkefer, the book tells the exploits of a group of thirty Federal Bureau of Narcotics agents, who took on the Mafia and organized crime (while the FBI turned its head) during the '60s and '70s to make cases and bring criminals to justice using a variety of means, from informers to more direct means of persuasion. 'Huntsman' producers Joe Roth and Palak Patel will team with Deborah Garratana and work with Sanders to get this one developed. Sounds interesting enough, although, kind of almost exactly like "Gangster Squad" in a way, just with a different period setting.
gossipcop According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Universal has decided to shelf [sic] its planned Snow White and the Huntsman sequel and is instead focusing on a solo Huntsman movie starring Chris Hemsworth.” The site then notes, “Kristen Stewart will not be invited to return if the follow-up goes forward.” Woah.
Those are some big claims.
And they’re WRONG.
A well-placed insider tells Gossip Cop that Stewart “hasn’t been dropped,” adding that theTHR story is “inaccurate.”
“There isn’t a script” yet, our source points out, making it impossible to know for sure which characters will be included in future installments.
In fact, a spokesperson for Universal says NO decisions have been made.
“The studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise,” the rep says.
Variety_JLD Universal is currently exploring a SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN spinoff that would center on Chris Hemsworth, a plan that that still may include co-star Kristen Stewart and/or director Rupert Sanders,SHOWBLITZ has learned.
The studio is open to several creative directions for its potential franchise -- including the possibility of a straight sequel -- but for now will focus development resources on Hemsworth, the THOR star who appears in Universal's upcoming Formula One racing pic RUSH.
A Hemsworth-led spinoff has been in U's plans for some time: Two months before SWATH opened to a healthy $56 million in the U.S., Universal chief Ron Meyer said that while "the upcoming (SWATH) doesn’t appear to lend itself to a sequel, Universal thinks it can do more movies based on the character of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) if it is successful."
Around the time of its release, studio brass began getting serious about a straight sequel, a notion it was considering as early as April. That idea was backburnered in the wake of widespread tabloid reports regarding Stewart and Sanders, though either could play a role in future SWATH installments.
Universal just picked up the book 90 CHURCH for Sanders to develop, while Hemsworth has THOR: THE DARK WORLD, AVENGERS 2 and (maybe) ROBOPOCALYPSE on the horizon. After dropping out of CALI, Stewart's sked is clear -- after extensive press tours for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN -- PART 2 and ON THE ROAD.
While the odds of all three being reunited are clearly diminished, some combination of the original SWATH teaming is still very much in play.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar