So again we're back to this view of Moffat as some kind of all-powerful Bond villain who can do what he likes, rather than an employee of the BBC who, presumably, could be replaced at the sweep of a pen.
I don't see Moffat as Bond villain for, as you say, he can be sacked. What I read in those Wikileaks emails, though, suggests that the BBC would rather not ruffle his feathers (though they could), and they have legitimate reasons for keeping Moffat placated. I can imagine a conversation like this quite easily: "We may not like him, he may be a pain to work with, but his work on
Who and
Sherlock is a critical darling, so we put up with the bad to take the good."
Allyn, I'd be worried if the film's budget was that sort of figure, those are exactly the kind of films that can very easily flop. A film with a small budget can succeed very easily, and a big blockbuster has the money to advertise the hell out of it, plus likely big names and momentum. A mid-range effects film on the other hand which probably doesn't have a tent pole star and is based upon a product that is popular and has name recognition, but maybe isn't as big as people think can easily sink.
That's true, but there really are no certainties in Hollywood. Even Marvel will have a flop at some point.
I came up with a forty-five million figure from
Star Trek, actually;
Generations's budget was roughly twenty times a regular episode's budget, and that seemed like a good yardstick. Even the first
X-Files movie had a budget about thirty times the per-episode budget of the series.
My fear with a small-ish budget -- say, twenty million or less -- that the Hollywood studio would run into resistance from the Hollywood press about their seriousness -- "Potential franchise, but they're releasing an indie-style movie shot on the cheap?" Production narrative controls a
lot in Hollywood; once a film gets the stink of a bomb on it, it's difficult to wash off.
Even as a fan of Moffat I agree, RTD went at the right time, personally assuming someone decent is lined up to take over I'd like Series 9 to be Moffat's last, the show needs regularly shaking up, that's part of what keeps it fresh.
I admit, I would like to see Moffat sent packing from the
Who production offices with Oliver Cromwell's speech dismissing the Rump Parliament:
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.
Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government.
Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?
Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?
Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance.
Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do.
I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.
Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
In the name of God, go!
Not likely to ever happen, but I can dream.
