Scribe Ehren Kruger and the writing team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are in negotiations to team to write the screenplay for DreamWorks/Paramount's "Transformers 2."Torso is becoming a movie? Sweet. Brian Michael Bendis' Powers would make a fantastic franchise.
Director Michael Bay, star Shia LaBeouf and producers Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Don Murphy are back in their respective chairs, as is exec producer Steven Spielberg.
The teaming of A-listers to write such a huge project might be an industry first and could have been necessary because Kurtzman and Orci -- who wrote the $315 million-grossing first "Transformers" movie -- also are busy writing J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie for Paramount and producing "Eagle Eye" for DreamWorks.
But the teaming will not be a case of complete strangers being thrust together, as the three writers are working together on "Nightlife," a DreamWorks serial-killer project that sees Kruger adapting a Thomas Perry novel, with Kurtzman and Orci producing along with Neal Moritz. Kruger also adapted the Stephen King tome "The Talisman," which Spielberg is exec producing
for TNT.
Sources are pegging the writing deal, which is not yet closed, in the $5 million-$7 million range, which also might be an industry high for a nonoriginal screenplay. Reflected in the price is the pressure to perform: With the studio hoping to make the movie before a potential talent strike, the writers are going to have to type fast.
Kruger met with Bay and Hasbro president Brian Goldner and impressed the duo with his knowledge of the "Transformers" mythology. Kruger also has "Torso," a graphic novel adaptation that has David Fincher directing, set up at Paramount. He is repped by Paradigm and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.
Orci and Kurtzman are repped at CAA.
Anyway back to Transformers. That $5-7 million payday for each member of the writing team is quite nice, with a probably rush job surcharge added on with the studio trying to beat the strike deadline. The strike and because Orci and Kurtzman will probably be on set for Star Trek XI in November, is probably why Kruger was added to the team. The other two come up with the outline and the "big" ideas and Kruger is the man that cleans it up why they work on Star Trek.
Keep in mind that everyone is working against a clock right now. Not because of the strike but because of the year and more lead time that Hasbro needs to make sure the toys are ready in time for the movie. Since the movie is aiming for June 26, 2009 that means that more then likely the script (and cast of characters) along with pre-production designs must be completed by end of April (to be generous). I am thinking as a result drafts have to be slammed out by end of November at the latest. For movie scripts that is not much time at all. Hopefully the writers knew this was coming and already has started work on the script. The shooting draft doesn't have to be completed by then but the major scenes, sets, and characters have to be in place so that pre-production knows what to do in preparation.
The payday that is coming for the writers is a precursor for the large payday coming to Bay and Shia (which the article is saying are coming back). It wouldn't surprise me that when its all said and done (not including profit sharing) that about $35 million (I suspect it will be about $50 million when said and done) of the budget will go to just paydays. I think this is the movie that Shia will cross the $10 million per movie threshold. I don't think he is worth it but the studios tend to believe the hype they themselves manufacture. No idea how the paydays work the for producing team which is a carry over from the first film. The issue between Spielberg and Paramount is still rumbling around so not sure what, if any, impact that may have on the film.
Over all the takeaway is that all the major players for the first film are coming together for the sequel, with an additional writer. If you loved the first film, that's good news. If you didn't, there is a nearly $700 million gross that says too bad. Thanks to various site readers for the article.
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0710/04/index.htm
ReplyDeleteScroll down a bit for pics of the DVD menu!
I kinda hate that they are in such a hurry to get the screenplay done. I hope they don't skimp on the story or character development because of time issues. I loved the first movie. My only "comment" in regards to the first movie is that, while I understand TF time on the screen is expensive, I would have liked to seen more character development from the TF's themselves. Anyway, I guess I should be thankful there's going to be a sequel! Thanks for the blog, man!
ReplyDeleteneed more transformations from a greater distance (but not too distant). don't get me wrong i also loved t first film but you didn't quite get a feel where the parts, i.e. arms, legs... came from. whenever prime transformed, it was as if the camera was right upon him. i'd have like t see him transform with all of him on screen. this works on 2 fronts if you ask me: a) further away means 'less' intense detail so cheaper and quicker/easier to animate, and b) we see transformations as we know them from the cartoon... i.e. all shown on screen.
ReplyDeletemegatron's transformations could have been better. out of all four (!!!!!!) of them, it always in a blur and ya could never get a feel of where his legs went, or where his wings came from.
NONE of the above a criticism... constructive concren ONLY!!!
roll on june 26th 2009!
Transformers was nutz i love the movie i am hoping that the 2nd one is even more nutz. my opinion i think u should add more autobots from ever generation of transformers. i cant wait
ReplyDeleteTF IS THE SHIT