Hollywood Road

In the twentieth century, Fox had great expectations for "Heavenly Kings", which was far better than "Deadpool" of the past year. This can be seen from the schedule. "Heavenly Kings" is not only placed in the traditional strong business The summer file was released on the first weekend of the summer file under the strong request of Dave Scola.

"This schedule is simply good and can't be better."

Standing in front of the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Carla Faith looked at Dave Scola who was interviewed in the interview area. An opponent in the sense of integrity."

Murphy next to her looked relaxed, "You mean George Lucas' "Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith"?"

This era is not the time when blockbuster films are released together. Very few two films with an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars will directly collide in the same weekend. Even many blockbusters are trying to avoid the last Star Wars that George Lucas said. It was moved to June and July. For example, Warner Bros.'s "Superman Returns" was moved from the end of May to the end of July.

Carla Faith suddenly changed the subject, "It is said that the heroine Natalie Portman once again refused to attend the premiere."

"Well, I heard." Murphy said faintly, "Refused with the excuse of studying in Jerusalem. It's a smart choice."

"Why do you say that?" Carla Faith was a little puzzled. "Is she not afraid to offend George Lucas by doing this?"

"She doesn't care anymore. I've heard people say that Padmé Amidala will die in this movie, and she will not be able to play Star Wars again." Because of the past, Murphy Bicara Fess watched More clearly, "George Lucas is not a member of the directors' union, nor is he liked by the old Oscars himself, and he will not become an obstacle to her future Oscars."

"A woman as realistic as we are." Carla Faith seemed to admire a little bit. "If it weren't for her dizziness and coming with you like this, I would really like to get acquainted with her."

She turned the topic back again, "How did you feel when you watched the trial screening of "The Kings of Heaven"?"

"Very bad." Although the film is a bit different from the memory, it is no better than the previous release. Coupled with the general environment faced by the epic war film, it is not difficult for Murphy to conclude, "I personally think that in the short-term Don't talk about cost recovery inside."

He pointed to the interview area, where Orlando Bloom and Eva Green were being interviewed, "The two actors that Dave Scola insisted on using these two actors were terrible."

Murphy heard Carla Fiss say that Ridley Scott’s original favorite heroine was another candidate, but under Dave Scola’s strong insistence, he was forced to use Orlando Bloom and Iraq. Baby Green.

"Orlando-Bloom will be a very good embellishment in any commercial film, but let him support a male protagonist..." Murphy shook his head. Even though many actors can eat on their faces, their roles are thin and small. The level of the blacksmith will greatly affect the audience's perception, "And Eva Green, her appearance..."

As if unable to find a suitable adjective, Murphy thought for a while and then said, "It's very distinctive, and it's a type that people will never forget. She would be great to play some mysterious roles, but the heroine of this film , It is so different from her appearance and temperament."

"The hero and heroine I chose is so useless?"

A loud voice suddenly sounded from behind. Before Murphy turned his head, Dave Scola, who was interviewed in the interview area before, did not know when he actually came over. "Director Stanton is very disgusted with my movie. ?"

Murphy didn't have the embarrassment of talking about others behind his back at all. He shrugged slightly and said calmly, "This is just my personal opinion, and I'm just going to talk about it."

Dave Scola snorted in a daze.

"I don't know what your expectations for the first weekend are?" Murphy didn't realize it at all.

Hearing this, Dave Scola wanted to directly say 100 million U.S. dollars, but he still said a conservative number, "50 million U.S. dollars."

Murphy nodded and stopped talking. With the current environment and the really average quality of the film, it takes a miracle to get this number.

"Dave, how about we make a bet?" Kara Feith would not let him off easily. "If the box office of the first weekend in North America can meet your expectations, I will resign from the 20th Century Fox. All positions; if you can't reach it, how about quitting your current position?"

In the 20th century, after Fox invested heavily in "Kings of Heaven", she certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to engage in other things, but she believed in Murphy's judgment.

"I..." Dave Scola looked at Carla Faith, who was smiling and confident, and swallowed the second half of the sentence.

He is not a kindergarten kid, how could he agree to such a brain-dead bet.

Looking at Murphy, then at Carla Faith, Dave Scola nodded, turned and left.

At this time, no matter how much it is said, it is superfluous. When the box office results of the first week of "Kings of Heaven" come out, he will smash the box office report fiercely on the face of the dog and man.

"Do you believe me that way?" Murphy ignored Dave Scola, who was gone. "Are you not afraid of losing in the end?"

"Will you lose?" Carla Faith doesn't care much. "Even if you lose, you wouldn't see me wandering on the streets, right?"

She glanced at her watch, "I won't tell you, I'm going to talk to Alan Harris."

Murphy waved her hand and motioned to her to be casual and ignore herself.

Most of the people attending the premiere began to walk into the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Murphy was also mixed in. As he walked forward, a reporter suddenly leaned in.

This is a female reporter who has interviewed her before. The name Murphy is forgotten, only that she is from the "Hollywood Reporter".

"I saw you during the trial screening of this film before." The female reporter was not polite at all and asked directly, "I think there is a problem with this film, Director Stanton, what do you think?"

"The ability of director Ridley Scott is undoubted. He has proven himself countless times in the past." Murphy has never been a good person in the standard sense. He paused for a while, and said suddenly, "As long as he is not affected by foreigners. Factors interfere, Ridley Scott's work is the guarantee of quality and box office."

Upon hearing this, the female reporter was stunned, and her pace unconsciously slowed down, and the distance between her and Murphy grew further and further.

"Isn't disturbed by external factors?" She muttered to herself, as if she had grasped something, "Is there any inside story about this film that the media doesn't understand?"

The female reporter immediately came to the spirit, so that she could dig.

If the film is successful, of course everything is fine. If it fails, I believe the things behind the scenes are still very interesting.

Because of the release of "Kings of Heaven", Murphy has been paying attention to this weekend. Although he came to participate in the premiere of this film, he is still paying attention to another film, which is also the seed player of this year's Oscar.

"Crash", directed by Paul Haggis, was also released this weekend. If he remembers correctly, this film that reflects American social and ethnic issues won the best picture at the Oscars next year.

This is also another movie released in the first half of the year after "Gladiator", which can win the Oscar for Best Picture Golden Man.

The schedule is very important for hitting the Oscars, but whether the content of the film is in the favor of a large number of white middle-aged and elderly judges is actually even more important.

"The Lost Lover" will also not be placed on the Thanksgiving-Christmas schedule, which is adjacent to the awards season, but will be placed in August. At this time, the North American summer file has entered the end, and there is no competition from super commercial masterpieces. For the film market More favorable.

In addition to "Crash" this weekend, there is another film released, "The Wax Museum of Horror" starring Paris Hilton.

Because of the widely circulated videotape, Murphy and Gal Gadot went to the theater to watch this film. There were not too many surprises or disappointments. This is a typical American style. Horror film.

Compared to Murphy, who continues to be busy in the post-production of "The Lost Lover," May is destined to be a time period when some people are disappointed.

In the three days of the weekend, "Kings of Heaven" overwhelmed the "Crash" and "Horror Wax Museum" released at the same time, and won the North American box office chart. This was good news, but the box office accumulation for the three days of the weekend was only poor More than 18 million US dollars, not to mention reaching the 50 million US dollars expected by Fox in the 20th century, not even half of it.

If the box office fails in the first weekend and the reputation is sufficient, you can still count on the long-term, but the media and audience reputation of "King Dynasty" is also a mess.

"In the two-hour-long film, there is one battle after another, and these battles are mixed together. Except for shabby and old clothes and long and dirty hair, the audience should not expect to get anything else in the movie. "

This is arguably the most representative comment.

The outside world has unanimously looked down upon "Kings of Heaven". Many professional forecasting agencies, even the most optimistic, believe that the North American box office of the film cannot exceed US$50 million, and the global box office is up to US$200 million.

This also means that "Kings of the Heavens" not only falls far short of expectations, it will also become a film that caused huge losses for Fox in the 20th century.

Someone must stand up and take responsibility for such a huge failure.

After such a series of additional investments, the total production cost reached 150 million US dollars, and the promotion and marketing cost of more than 70 million US dollars encountered Waterloo, which directly led to the first shot of the North American summer file this year. It will also attract the outside world. Wide attention from the media.

Especially the female reporter whom Murphy had vaguely reminded, has been searching for the truth through the surface, and has received a lot of inside information.