'Red Dawn' in Danger of Never Being Released?

The best laid plans of MGM are now the details holding up a sale of the heavily indebted company. The Hobbit we know all about. James Bond is on hiatus until the studio has money or sells the property to another bidder or is absorbed by a bigger conglomerate, likely Time-Warner. But there are other projects that MGM had hoped would save the day, like a Poltergeist reboot that's going nowhere fast, RoboCop (ditto), and Red Dawn. The difference for that 80s remake is the film has already been made. A release date was pushed from earlier in 2010 back to November 24th, but The Los Angeles Times says it won't open then and might not ever be released. I wouldn't go to that extreme; it's a $75 million movie starring Thor (Chris Hemsworth), so if MGM is willing to let another studio distribute it and pay for the P & A and all that in exchange for a larger-than-normal percentage in these kinds of arrangements, it could still work. If I were Sony, say, or Universal, or even Overture, I might invest $50 million in marketing this movie and paying the distribution costs, then selling the foreign rights to other distributors. Then anything over X amount goes to MGM, unless it never hits X amount, in which case a percentage split is invoked. That's better than nothing. Of course, you'd have to wait until next summer to see how big a hit Thor is. If it does well and there's attention paid to Hemsworth, drop this thing in theaters in August or September. It's usually lighter then and there aren't as many major ad campaigns for the movies coming out. But now, we're looking at 15 months from now, and there's sure to be some clarity on the MGM issue before then. Maybe the new ownership will think this movie's a cure-all and push it really aggressively (it's not like MGM has anything else to promote...), or maybe the new ownership will think it's awful but since the money's a drop in the bucket relative to buying the entire company, a deal can be brokered with another studio and this movie can be part of a fire sale or something. I'd be really surprised if Red Dawn is just dropped on DVD. There's a little money to be made with it somehow or other, through domestic and international distribution. Since the money's been spent and MGM is operating from a loss already, whatever company comes in to save the day really doesn't have to put too much work or cash into this to turn around its fortunes.

Comments

[James]

This is a load of crap. It is so obvious that this film is being delayed because the press in China went
bezerk about it. The whole MGM thing is a good cover to keep this film from never being released.
It wont be released because China doesnt want it released. Its that simple. Way to go America the communists have won. Go to RedDawn 2010.com to see the articles about the Chinese people protesting
this film being released. And just a few days later we get news that the film will be postponed aka will more than likely never see the light of day. Just a coincidence right. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. I think a petition should be started to get this film released and soon. All fans of Red Dawn
or America for that matter get some petitions started. WOLVERINES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YIT]

RIght on!!! WOLVERINES!!!!!!!!!!!

[J.Bradley]

I still think they should have made a movie about one or several states in America seceding and the AMERICAN government invading. THAT would've been a more timely remake.

[Tbone]

I'll support a petition. I want to see this movie more than anything. The first one is one of my all time favorites. Since I first heard of the remake about a year ago, I have been eagerly waiting.

[John]

I still think they should have made a movie about one or several states in America seceding and the AMERICAN government invading. THAT would've been a more timely remake.
Saturday, June 12, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJ.Bradley
_____________
EXCELLENT SUGGESTION! I'd pay to go see the movie.

[John]

Who cares.......This movie will probably suck just like all other remakes......Come up with something original besides the Chinese, Russians, North Koreans, etc, etc, etc........How bout Canada, Mexico, England? Now that would be interesting.