Sep 22 2008Universal Will Not Pay For Your 'Tintin' Movie, Steven Spielberg
Universal has rescinded financing on Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's CGI motion-capture Tintin project after learning they would never make any money on this whole Tintin scheme:
The two legendary directors submitted to Universal a 130 million dollar budget to produce a trilogy of films based on the beloved Belgian comic-strip boy reporter.But Universal refused to green light the project, and production, scheduled to begin in October, is on hold until Spielberg and Jackson find other financing, the Times said.
Universal officials winced when they saw the two Hollywood luminaries demanding about 30 percent of the movie's total gross revenues, meaning that "Tintin" would have to rake in some 425 million dollars globally before the studios could break even, according to the newspaper.
In my understanding, the main problem is the price of digitizing the actors, which involves hiring a programmer to write an evil program and then waiting for a computer to get hit by lightning while the actors make a quiet wish that they could live in the video game, thus sucking them inside the screen for use in computer-animated films. We need to get that cost down somehow. Any ideas?
Reader Comments
1. Sebastian - September 22, 2008 11:31 AM
Let IT students code this program for board and lodging. And take look-a-likes of the actors u need. Who cares if its CGI later in the movie?!
2. Zoe Necrosis - September 22, 2008 11:38 AM
Wow, how could Universal possibly pass up the opportunity to cash in on a franchise with such a built-in fan-base?... Oh, wait, I know, because no one knows what the hell Tintin is. Not in this country, at least. Anyone heard of this thing? None of my cronies have.
Doesn't matter, the rumbling is that Paramount may pick it up.
3. Zyclonis - September 22, 2008 11:59 AM
I'd rather see Spielberg and Jackson pump out some more Sci-Fi or Fantasy. I have no vested interest in Tin Tin and I really can't think of anyone I know... or have ever met that are / were looking forward to a Tin Tin movie. I hope the guys shelve it and move on to other projects that actually make sense.
4. Uncle Eccoli - September 22, 2008 12:14 PM
TinTin?! What is that, senility creeping in? Jackson's not even that old... I expected more from both of them.
5. sam - September 22, 2008 12:39 PM
wow. i'm on the other side of the fence on this. i can't believe Universal is passing up on this---$130 million for a trilogy?? seriously? so Universal has no interest in doing business with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson helming two thirds of a trilogy? fine. take your business elsewhere, guys. oops. sorry. just checked the Universal website for a sec and yes, they're the ones responsible Death Race, Fast and Furious 4, and The Mummy. my bad. lmao.
and i bet Dane Cook also has no idea what Tintin is.
arrogant ignorance is bliss, isn't it?
6. momboelitist - September 22, 2008 12:48 PM
Are you sure they're not forgetting the "Rin" part?
7. Bob Vila - September 22, 2008 1:09 PM
I'd actually be pretty pumped about a TinTin movie. I used to read those comics all the time (and I'm American!), and would enjoy a legit movie version. That being said, if its some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles style bullshit, count me out.
8. joss - September 22, 2008 2:02 PM
DAMMIT I've been waiting to see this (though I don't know why it has to be CG. That would be like CGing Charlie Brown).
9. Bobeyo - September 22, 2008 2:59 PM
I'm with #3 on this one. We need more Sci-Fi and Fantasy, NOT more CGI comic movies.
10. Berzerker - September 22, 2008 8:43 PM
a Tintin movie would be awesome! Anyone who doesnt know about Tintin is a jackass o rama.
11. LenS - September 22, 2008 10:23 PM
Good for Universal. While there may be a market for this, doing business with Spielberg is financially crazy. For thirty years now, he's sucked the profit from both the back and front ends of every project he's involved with. He always make a fortune while the studios are left with rather meager profits after taking all the risks and spending all the capital.
At least Lucas uses his own cash for his projects. Spielberg, however, always uses someone elses. What amazes me is that he still finds studio heads dumb enough to fall for it.