MARVEL TO PRODUCE ITS OWN MID-BUDGET FILMS

[Khephra]

MARVEL TO PRODUCE ITS OWN MID-BUDGET FILMS

According to a report in today’s Variety, Marvel is looking to make a serious move into film production and rollout more films based on lesser-known characters in deals that would allow the company to retain the equity in the films.

According to the story, Marvel will shortly roll out a listing of films it will produce – all mid-budget ($8 to $50 million), starring 2nd and 3rd tier characters. Marvel will release both film and direct-to-video productions. Financing will mostly come from third parties.

President and CEO of Marvel Studios, Avi Arad told the trade: "It's a sure thing to open and it's strong on DVD," of potential Marvel character-based pics. According to Arad, Marvel will not be getting out of the blockbuster business – films such as Spider-Man and X-Men will continue at the larger studios.

more.............

http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5929

[Kamika]

1. oh god

there will be more cgi then the new star wars movies.. they will suck

[Khephra]

2. Someone on one of the forums brought up the Buffy comparison

You can do good things with a shitty budget if you're not talking about Galactus level characters. Several interesting examples were mentioned: Ant-Man, Iron Fist, Shaing-Chi, etc...

[Mal]

4. Deadpool.

The early murderously-funny Deadpool, not the later wussy trying to live up to hero Deadpool.

[JHB]

3. It's not the cgi that sucks...

...it's substituting cgi for script and filmmaking that sucks.

[The Zanti Regent]

5. Are they gonna take another shot at the Fantastic Four?

I actually was in a preview audience for Roger Corman's Fantastic Four, and it was one of the CHEESIEST films ever. It was so bad that Mike and the Bots wouldn't have touched it! People repeatedly booed during the movie and some walked out. Because of the hostile reaction, Stan Lee bought the movie back and supressed it. a shame, it would have been pure RAZZIE material!

[JHB]

7. Corman only made it because his rights wer about to run out.

He'd paid for the rights earlier for a set number of years, but that clock was running out, so he slapped together that cheeze-doodle just to have something to show for his money (and made it up when Lee bought it out).

There's already an FF movie in development in Hollywood, tentatively due out late next year, but the director changed projects, so expect that to be bumped back more.
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15737

[BigMcLargehuge]

6. uh oh...

The Punisher... Captain America... The Fantastic Four (Corman's unreleased version)... The Incredible Hulk films with Bill Bixby...

Of course if Marvel can shovel these projects to people who love and appreciate the characters, even second tier ones like Cloak and Dagger, or Power Pack (honestly though, did anyone but me like Power Pack???), then they will do okay. If Marvel does what they've done in the past (Pre-Blade) and let any idiot helm a Marvel property film we're in for a rush of crappy DVDs.

[Zolok]

8. Why?

Because Daredevil and the Hulk need some company in the "sucks like a Hoover" category.

[Paragon]

9. Yes! "Moon Knight" will finally get his own movie!

Excelsior! :silly: Make Mine Marvel!

[Coventina]

10. I'm remaining optimistic

I realize this could end up really crappy, but I'm hoping otherwise.

I'd love to see some of the 2nd and even 3rd tier characters get movies made of their stories.
Magik comes to mind....

[Beetwasher]

11. I'd like to see crossover films

Hulk vs. Spiderman etc....