Disney Chief Axes New Robin Williams Comedy

The new regime at Disney is making some intriguing waves. New boss Rich Ross already canceled McG's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea update, but decided instead to raid the vaults for a new Black Hole, to be directed by TRON Legacy's Joseph Kosinski. That indicates to me that the new chief likes what he sees out of Legacy, and that's good to hear. But now, weeks after Old Dogs emerged as a rather casual box office performer, Ross has 86ed a new Robin Williams comedy called Wedding Banned. It was set to co-star Diane Keaton as Williams' ex-wife as the pair kidnap their daughter (Anna Faris) on the eve of her wedding to keep her from repeating their mistakes. Writes Variety, "The decision to put Banned into turnaround has Disney-ites wondering what exactly constitutes a Disney studio movie in the Ross era, especially since Banned seemed to be in the mold of other studio hit comedies such as The Proposal and Wild Hogs." Then again, Old Dogs was in that mold, too. But perhaps that's the point. Ross may think audiences are weary of that kind of stuff, even though those two examples did quite well. Until we see a production slate for Disney (one that doesn't include massive tentpoles), we won't really know if this is a sea change or if it's cold feet over a familiar formula with a star who's as hit-and-miss as Williams has been. Of course, Wedding Banned and Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues were projected to be big parts of the studio's 2011 plan, so Ross has to find something to fill the gaps. Variety indicates that the recent deal with DreamWorks - purely distribution on the part of The House of Mouse - could bolster Disney's forces. Right now, about the only thing the company has going that year is Pirates 4, Real Steel, and the 3-D re-release of Beauty and the Beast. They better sell a lot of tickets.

Comments

[SEAN]

Well Pirates will sure as hell give them good bizness...

Why axe this story, it sounds good and the cast sounds not too bad..Could it be the bad blood Robin Williams has with Disney from so many years ago???

[Get The Big Picture]

No, it's mostly Old Dogs. It's probably going to do two-to-one, and that's a low return for Disney.