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Miramax Films' lengthy, drawn out buy-out process has now affected its upcoming slate with two of its films withdrawn from their winter releases.
John Madden's part-thriller, part romantic drama, "The Debt," and Troy Nixey's Guillermo Del Toro-produced "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" were scheduled to hit theaters on December 29th and January 21st respectively but have now been postponed until Miramax's new owners — construction magnate Ron Tutor and Tom Barrack's Santa Monica-based Colony Capital — put together their new shingle, Filmyard.
The deal won't reportedly be completed until the year's end because of "strictly logistical reasons" with no new dates announced probably until all the i's and t's are dotted and crossed. According to a source who spoke to the LA Times Disney, who were originally going to distribute the films in exchange for a percentage of revenue, are now balking at giving full marketing campaigns to films they won't end up owning. Other Miramax films like Julie Taymor's "The Tempest" and Will Speck & Josh Gordon's "The Switch" found new homes under Disney's Touchstone shingle after the company's demise with the latter hitting theaters this past spring and the former coming in December. Filmyard will need to find a new distribution partner for the films which are now expected to hit theaters sometime in 2011.
Starring Sam Worthington, Marton Csokas and Jessica Chastain as three Mossad agents on the hunt for a Nazi war criminal, the flashback-laden part thriller, part romantic drama "The Debt" was one of the better scripts we'd read from Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass," "Stardust") and we did have hopes for an exciting thriller at the very least; especially with the stellar cast topped off by Helen Mirren, Ciaran Hinds and Tom Wilkinson, who'll play the three protagonist's older equivalents.
Nixey's "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark," meanwhile, stars Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison as a family who move into a derelict house, only to experience the unveiling of some terrifying creatures. Early footage has painted the picture of an unnerving, thrilling feature very much in vein of producer Del Toro's works which sounds exciting enough.
These are both promising projects and we hope they don't end up languishing on the shelf for too long.
Sam Worthington has yet to convince us that he's the next great hope for leading men. Yeah, sure, he was in "Avatar" but like the rest of the cast in that movie, he played second fiddle to the special effects. Moreover, his leading turns in "Terminator Salvation" and "Clash Of The Titans" left a bit to be desired.
So, all that said, we're kind of looking forward to the thriller "Man On A Ledge." Starring Worthington, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie and Elizabeth Banks, the film follows an ex-cop (Worthington) who framed for a crime, who is released from prison for his father's funeral, and threatens suicide from a hotel ledge. Across town, meanwhile, his brother (Bell) is planning a heist, which may be connected to the cop's actions. Mackie plays the cop's ex-partner while Banks will be the negotiator looking to talk him down from the titular precipice.
Now two more have been added, with Edward Burns and Genesis Rodriguez joining the cast. Intriguingly, Burns will play a rival hostage negotiator who tries to take over the proceedings when he suspects Banks of having a conflict of interest. Rodriguez will play Bell's girlfriend. Twists and turns abound it would seem.
Filming kicks off in November in New York with Asger Leth ("Ghosts of Cite Soleil") directing.
He might have convinced studio executives and tentpole casting directors, but since James Cameron plucked him from the Australian indie scene to topline "Avatar," Sam Worthington hasn't convinced the rest of us that he's an acting force to be reckoned with. He might have headlined the likes of "Terminator: Salvation" and "Clash of the Titans," but he doesn't appear to have mastered the things that'll give his career longevity, like not speaking in his native accent, or having charisma, and reviews of dramas "The Debt" and "Last Night" from Toronto generally picked the actor out as the weak link.
But he's giving the serious actor thing another shot in Summit's thriller "Man On A Ledge," from director Asger Leth ("Ghosts of Cite Soleil"), in which Worthington will play a ex-cop framed for a crime, who is released from prison for his father's funeral, and threatens suicide from a hotel ledge. Across town, meanwhile, his brother is planning a heist, which may be connected to the cop's actions... A strong cast is already on board, with Jamie Bell as the brother, and "The Hurt Locker" star Anthony Mackie as Worthington's ex-partner, and now, another excellent actor has come on board.Deadline report that Elizabeth Banks has joined the cast, as the female lead, a hostage negotiator who tries to talk Worthington down, developing feelings for him in the process. The actress is best known for her comedy roles, but she's going more serious in Paul Haggis' dire-looking "The Next Three Days," and this part marks another step towards the A-list for Banks. Amy Adams was previously reported to be circling the role.
Filming kicks off in November in New York, and we hope that, with a supporting cast as strong as this one, Worthington might raise his game somewhat, and the film'll turn out to be an enjoyable, high-class thriller along the lines of "Inside Man" or "The Negotiator." Aside from "The Next Three Days" the in-demand Banks has "The Details" with Tobey Maguire and the Paul Rudd indie comedy "My Idiot Brother" coming up, and is developing the fantasy comedy "Tink" for Disney.
Miramax Films' lengthy, drawn out buy-out process has now affected its upcoming slate with two of its films withdrawn from their winter releases.
