Monday, May 10, 2010

Salary Dispute Holding Up 'Breaking Dawn 2' Annoucement

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ashley Greene (Alice) and Kellan Lutz (Emmett) are the cause of the delay in the announcement of Breaking Dawn being split into two movies.

THR is reporting that the pay that the two actors are receiving for starring in the final installment has been called "'offensive' given the mega-money the franchise has generated".

From The Hollywood Reporter:

EXCLUSIVE: Summit Entertainment is working furiously to close the talent deals required to split Stephenie Meyer's fourth "Twilight" novel into two films. But an unlikely roadblock is holding up an announcement -- and could even lead to cast changes for the series' final installment.

The studio is close to finalizing agreements with leads Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, all of whom will get big raises to return for a fifth installment of the vampire romance saga. And director Bill Condon is already signed to film two "Breaking Dawn" movies, which would be shot back-to-back starting in the fall and released in November 2011 and summer 2012, respectively.

But Summit is having a harder time locking in some of the franchise's secondary characters. Deals for Peter Facinelli (who plays Carlisle Cullen) and Billy Burke (Bella's father, Charlie Swan) are done, but we're told the actors who play the Cullen kids (especially Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene) are trying to sink their teeth into bigger paydays that, at least at this point, the studio behind the billion-dollar franchise is unwilling to provide. "We may have a situation where one of them is thrown out on the street to make a point," says a source close to the dealmaking.

So are we headed for a recasting on the final "Twilight"?

There is precedent for such a tactic. After the success of the first film, Summit axed Rachelle Lefevre, who played Victoria, in part because her reps played hardball on money. (Bryce Dallas Howard got the job instead.) Now, two films into the series, even the minor Twilighters (Lutz in particular) have become sought-after stars, so it makes sense they'd want to be paid more for the final film. But we're told that the offers from Summit -- which are said to be at least 10 times what the actors made on the first movie -- were deemed "offensive" given the mega-money the franchise has generated.

Summit declined to comment on the situation. But the studio wants to move quickly to pull the trigger on two movies -- and it isn't afraid to recast if deals can't be reached. Plus, it has even more reason to be concerned about costs this time around. As is typical with blockbuster franchises, the "Twilight" movies are becoming more expensive with each installment. And the leads are going to do especially well if "Breaking Dawn" is split into two parts. The trio were initially signed for three films (remember, this was back when "Twilight" was a low-budget adaptation of a niche YA novel), but in the spring of 2009 -- after the first movie became an international hit -- they renegotiated all their deals so Summit could lock them for a fourth movie.

The studio then realized that "Breaking Dawn," with its 900-plus pages and narratives told from two perspectives, was dense enough to be split into two installments (as Warner Bros. announced it would do for the final "Harry Potter" book). Just one problem: The cast wasn't signed for a fifth movie. They're all huge stars now, with Lautner in particular running up his quote to the $7.5 million range, so another renegotiation commenced.

That meant ponying up big-time for the leads, which will make the final movie far more expensive than the others ("Eclipse," which hits theaters June 30, is costing around $65 million, a figure sure to be dwarfed by the fourth and fifth, even if costs can be amortized by shooting them at the same time). For that reason, Summit is still holding out the option of simply doing one "Breaking Dawn," although multiple sources say they'd be shocked if the fifth film doesn't happen. "This thing is gonna be two movies," one source says. "With or without the cast intact." Meyer has already signed off on the plan to make two, a key hurdle, given the approval rights she has in her deal.

Summit also is eyeing other cost-cutting measures for the final installments. A deal is currently being negotiated to move the production to Louisiana after making the first in Portland and the second two in Vancouver and Italy. Luring "Twilight" would be a huge "get" for the state -- and, given the tax credits, a money-saver for the studio.

"Twilight" has thus far been the rare tentpole franchise made on a non-tentpole budget. It'll be interesting to see the lengths that will Summit go to keep it there. Booting an actor from the final installment of a successful series could be a risky move, though we're betting that as long as their precious Bella, Edward and Jacob return, fans would get over any disappointment.

{via theresq.hollywoodreporter.com}

15 comments:

  1. Personally if they decide to recast- I hope it is Emmett and not Alice. IMO, Ashley does a better job with her character than Kellan. I also think that Alice's character is more loved than Emmett by fans so a recast might make some fans unhappy.

    I sometimes think they like to put this stuff out there to get fans excited over nothing. Only time will tell...

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  2. Yeah i a huge fan I hate makes changes of the actor's even if there not the manin one. I love all the charters in the movies so use who there are. I pray that work something out would not be the same!! The twilight sage makes larg amount of money. Yes if it weren't for the actor's it would be so big. They have a right to be payed more as more! Even changes the actor's it would suck big time i wouldn't even see Breaking Dawn it not the same. I would be ok about cos i read the book! So please keep everyone in the film, you alright change Victoria that just one person. I honestly i like the first Victoria even i haven't seen the new yet in the movie. Screw things up like that Please keep all the Actor's!

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  3. It suck's if they do that, they should keep everyone the way it is in all there films! Twilight Sage make huge amount of money just like harry potter, they should give the actor's what they want for the last film. It only affair if they make a change i wouldn't watch the last movie myself!! So gald I read the all the books it would be cooler all the actor's stay the same in the film. Pay them what they want ohh by the way Emmett is cool I don't want anyone to be kick off!!! One person change me too really like old Victoria, i to see how the second do. No more changes Please! The movie won't be the same!!

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  4. They must keep Ashley as Alice! Fav character, especially in Breaking Dawn!

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  5. Summit, you know what?
    If you recast Alice, I'll kill you right away!

    She is the female character I like the most, and of course, that is because of the actress herself, Ashley Greene!

    Her character, personality, and appearance are so needed for the emotion WE, the audiences who pay Summit money, would like for the movie. Ashley is the one who is so bright, so happy person. Everytime she comes out, the sad mood in the movie changes to be good!

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  6. I Love Alice and Emmett... I really hope that they decide to keep them... If they get rid of any one it should be Kristen... She is a HORRIBLE actress... She has NO talent what so ever... She over does it... Kellan and Ashley are awesome... They should give them what they are asking for... They deserve to be treated just as well as Rob,Kristen and Taylor... If they are going to pay someone a lot of money when they have NO talent (Kristen) they should pay the ones that do just as much... The only reason that Kristen gets the attention that she does is cause of Robert...

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  7. Summit, you know what?If you recast Alice, I'll kill you right away!

    She is the female character I like the most, and of course, that is because of the actress herself, Ashley Greene!

    Her character, personality, and appearance are so needed for the emotion WE, the audiences who pay Summit money, would like for the movie. Ashley is the one who is so bright, so happy person. Everytime she comes out, the sad mood in the movie changes to be good!

    You will definitely kill yourself if you recast Alice, or anyone else!
    Hatred for the change in Victoria is not that enough, huh, Summit?

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  8. If it comes down to either Ashley or Kellan getting the ax, it has to be Kellan! Ashley is the PERFECT Alice. A lot of people would be upset if she got the ax. I honestly don't know why she would want more for the 5th....Alice is MIA during half of it!

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  9. Neither one should be cut. No other actress could capture the airy and fun spirit that Ashley Greene brings to her part as Alice. Also, the Bella vs. Emmett arm wrestling contest wouldn't be as much fun if the actor playing Emmett was not the same one who teased Bella in the other movies.

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  10. These actors are playing hardball with Summit, and Summit will do exactly what they did to Rachel if they don't commit. 10 times their original salary is an insult? Noone knew who they were brofre Twilight. They shouldn't shoot themselves in the foot. This is one fan who's REALLY hoping for a compromise. I would hate to see them recast, but I would still go see the movie.

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  11. To change things for the 5th movie would be a stupid move regardless of the motivation to prove a point! What a way to destroy the entire theatrical series when you given physical identities to the characters in Stephanie's novels; it would be a bitter disappointment. With all the money Summit has made and has yet to make on the movies, DVDs, and merchandise....please! Let these people enjoy their success in the moment and pay them...you know another production company would, so give them what their due; it's stardom for goodness sake! Don't ruin it for the fans.

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  12. I seem to remember there was talk from WB about not all of the Harry Potter cast returning for all those movies. Something about Emma Watson not wanting to be type cast. Turned out to be much ado about nothing. I wonder if Summit is stirring the pot or trying to keep it's cast in line. It seems like it is a bit late to be recasting and making a success of the change. The characters are so ingrained now it would be difficult to accept others in those roles.

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  13. What does ''Alice is MIA'' mean?????? Some one help.

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  14. It is "missing in action"...

    Actually, do you know that you can just search yourself on Google or other Search Engines? A lot easier and simple!

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  15. They cant replace them!! Ashley is the perfect Alice and Kellen is the perfect Emmett. It wont be the same without them or any of the others. Please Summit dont do this, just give them what they want or give all the actors and actesses the same as Robert,Kristan,and Taylor. If u make any Cast changes, i bet nobody will see Breaking Dawn, and I know yall dont want that, so Please Please Please, dont change anything!!! :)ILoveTwilght :)

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