It is a plot so full of misadventure it could come straight from a Tintin book - and now it may have cost the widely anticipated film trilogy one of its stars.
The Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg project has been delayed by the messy break-up between Universal Pictures and Paramount, which were to co-finance the US$135 million films.
It now seems that Paramount is in negotiations to fully finance the project, but only if Spielberg and Jackson reduce their take.
The uncertainty may have led British actor Thomas Sangster, who had been cast to play the indefatigable Belgian reporter, to withdraw.
Variety magazine has reported that cast members, including Sangster, 18, had been lost because of delays to shooting, which was supposed to start in Los Angeles this month.
Weta Digital in Wellington will do the visual effects, including motion capture technology similar to that used for Gollum in The Lord of the Rings.
Variety columnist Anne Thompson said Paramount was negotiating to fully finance the project, but the delays had affected casting.
The only other cast member confirmed in Tintin was Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock. But Variety did not say whether Serkis was still involved. Neither were the claims confirmed or denied by those involved in the project.
A spokesman for Jackson in Wellington declined to comment.
Variety reported that Jackson's cut of The Lovely Bones was screened for Paramount bosses two weeks ago. A small group of select media in London was given a sneak preview of scenes from the movie last month.
The film, based on the novel by Alice Sebold, is due to be released late next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment