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News, announcements and other observations from across the entertainment industry

Live-action Akira lacks funds, goes on hold

Today Warner Brothers put a stop to its big-budget adaptation of the anime classic citing, among other things, too much budget.

Collet-Serra already had halved the budget from the incarnation that Albert Hughes was going to direct. He now is working on a budget in the $90 million range. But with only Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) signed on to star, and Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter in various stages of dealmaking, the studio feels that the price tag is still too high for a sci-fi project with that level of star wattage. The goal, says an insider, is to bring the budget down to between $60 million and $70 million. However, another source close to the production says the script, rather than the budget, has skidded the production. The project, this person says, will remain in the $90 million range.

It’s all probably with good reason, since the last time the WB invested mightily in bringing a classic anime title to the big screen–2008′s Speed Racer–the masses didn’t turn out like they’d hoped. Even in today’s market, $90 million still seems like a lot of money, and obviously the studio is having some confidence issues.

While I like to think this is just a matter of studio execs acting responsibly (can any of those actors can carry a film of that size, much less one based on a nerdy, mature property like Akira?) it’s probably more of an exercise in common sense, considering the declining appeal of anime as a whole over the last several years–all of which is fine with me, of course. I like Akira just the way it is.

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The Problematic Promotion of Prometheus

In an unusual and slightly disconcerting move, Fox has made a bigger deal than usual for the theatrical teaser trailer for Ridley Scott’s long-awaited return to science fiction with Prometheus. All week Apple has been hosting a series of pre-trailer clips (arguably trailers themselves), and today’s the day we all get a solid glimpse of just what the film will be and how closely related it to Alien it may or may not be.

While I’m as excited as the next person to see the film–and by some measure, the trailer for the film–having what amounts to trailers for the trailer is perhaps taking things a step too far. I certainly hope this isn’t the beginning of a new marketing trend. Then again, if there’s a film that deserves some clarity and managing of expectations with audiences, Prometheus would be it.

Check out the trailer (and trailer trailers) at Apple.com.

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Warner Bros. reportedly as concerned about Bane’s voice as you are

Those of us who shelled out to see The Dark Knight Rises prologue before IMAX screenings of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol this weekend pretty much all had the same thought: Bane’s actually pretty awesome, but I can’t understand a damn thing he’s saying. Apparently, Warner Bros. is concerned as well:

Sources also say some at Warners would like Nolan to change the sound mix, but the filmmaker, whose autonomy is well-earned (his Inception earned the studio more than $800 million and eight Oscar nominations), has informed executives that he plans only to alter the sound slightly, not to rework it completely.

“Chris wants the audience to catch up and participate rather than push everything at them. He doesn’t dumb things down,” says one high-level exec, declining to be named. “You’ve got to pedal faster to keep up.”

Might I, but a humble writer, suggest a simple compromise? Subtitles.

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Fast Six goes Kill Bill/Harry Potter/Twilight, splits into two movies

Fast Five was one of 2011′s biggest surprises for action aficionados, a film so gloriously bonkers that anyone who came of age in the late 80′s/early 90′s couldn’t help but fall for its overblown charms. That insanity will extend to the very structure of the next segment, as producer/star/Paul Walker lust object Vin Diesel informed the Hollywood Reporter that Fast Six will be two different movies.

With the success of this last one, and the inclusion of so many characters, and the broadening of scope, when we were sitting down to figure out what would fit into the real estate of number six, we didn’t have enough space…

We have to pay off this story, we have to service all of these character relationships, and when we started mapping all that out it just went beyond 110 pages,” Diesel explained. “The studio said, ‘You can’t fit all that story in one damn movie!’

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David Fincher’s visionary video for Reznor & Karen O’s “Immigrant Song” hits

David Fincher is one of the best film directors alive, but he began as the visionary behind cinematic music videos like Madonna’s “Express Yourself”, George Michael’s “Freedom 90″ and Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got A Gun”. He’s largely left the format behind since moving to the big screen, but finds time for one every now and again. Such is the case with the video for Trent Reznor and Karen O’s cover of “Immigrant Song” that played over the teaser trailer for Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Pitchfork has it now, prepare for amazement.

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