20th to Rely on Mutants and Blind Men to Lead Them Back to Health
As reported during our weekly box office items, this was not a good summer for 20th-Century Fox. We’re not the only ones to notice and an analysis in Variety shows the depth of their troubles as the studio has tumbled from its number one spot, getting through the lucrative season without a single film to break the $100 million box office barrier for success.
The lack of a break out film is partly being blamed on X-Men Origins: Wolverine being a year behind its anticipated release. This was precipitated by Hugh Jackman agreeing to star in Australia, opening this fall, but pushing back Wolverine’s schedule. The production proved troubling with the studio nearly firing director Gavin Hood until Richard Donner flew to the Outback to smooth things over on the project, being produced by his wife, Lauren Shuler Donner.
Coming to their rescue, could be other Marvel Super-Heroes. In addition to Wolverine, David S. Goyer’s X-Men Origins: Magneto inches towards green light. Following could be the Young X-Men project we tipped you off to a while back. Now they include on their development slate Deadpool, possibly spinning out of Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds plays the merc with a mouth and could gain his own spotlight.
They’re even thinking of rebooting Daredevil, the way Paramount rebooted Universal’s Hulk. A director’s cut of Mark Steven Johnson’s film is due out September 30 and its performance could influence the decision.
First, they need to win back to the fanboys who are outraged that Fox’s lawsuit might deprive them of seeing Watchmen next March.
Uh, Paramount didn't reboot Universal's Hulk-Universal rebooted Universal's Hulk.