I want to preface this with a SPOILER ALERT. Granted, most of the info below is nothing we haven’t already suspected, but, just in case you didn’t already know, I don’t want to be the one who ruins it for you.
G.I.: Joe Retaliation was set for release June 29th. The toys were boxed, the posters were printed and everyone was ready to see The Rock kick some ass. Then Paramount announces they are delaying the release until March 29, 2013. Why? They claim they want to convert the film to 3D for better performance in foreign markets and they want nine months to ensure the conversion doesn’t look crappy, but you didn’t really buy that, did you?
Nikki Finke over at Deadline did some digging and found the real reason: Channing Tatum dies in the beginning of the film.
Apparently Paramount noticed that Tatum had two decent hits this Spring with The Vow and 21 Jump Street both doing north of $100 mil domestically.
Here’s the lowdown from Paramount:
“This was a case of letting a schedule to fill a summer slot dictate the film not being in 3D even though we knew that would be the most commercial version of the film. Then in the spring there were 2 big events. First John Carter lost $200M despite the best efforts of the Pixar brain trust. But the 3D film managed to gross over $200M overseas, nearly tripling its U.S. take.
“Also Channing Tatum had a breakout spring, starring in The Vow and 21 Jump Street. In our first screening of the film the reaction from audiences was good but with 2 big concerns: 1) They didn’t like the fact that Channing and The Rock really didn’t have any time to develop a friendship before Channing died, and 2) Why wasn’t it going to be in 3D? We went back and shot another week with Channing to develop more of his story with The Rock, which made the film play much better. But we didn’t have the time to be in 3D.
“Then a week ago Battleship basically had the same performance as John Carter – $60M-$70M U.S. and just over $200M international. That was just a wake-up call that said to us we need to offer the best version of the film irrespective of summer market share to ensure the best possible performance. And not being in 3D will cost us a ton of business internationally.”
What do you make of all of this?
I think it’s a combination of Paramount not having confidence in G.I. Joe‘s box office in an over crowded summer, Tatum’s new found box office appeal and the 3D conversion.
Also, I’m guessing Paramount doesn’t want to open against the juggernaut that is Madea’s Witness Protection. What chance does any film have against such a high concept comedy?
SOURCE: Deadline Hollywood
