Studio Bidding War for Bad Robot Enters final stages
- Thread starter PixelMagic
- Start date
Imagine if Warner Brothers won, and we got JJ Abrams/Bad Robot DC universe movies...
It isn't clear what this might mean for this trek, though.
I mean, regardless what happens it shouldn't necessarily mean they can't still, hypothetically, work with bad robot for more trek movies if they want to, or that JJ cannot produce feature movies still. In fact, bad robot produced 'the force awakens' with Disney all the while they still had a deal with Paramount.
I'm surprised some sites seem to notice it only now that the deal with bad robot is coming to an end. That information was well known even when they pretty much said they were making two more trek movies (and when they hired a director who was already meeting with the cast) . If the fourth movie, the script with Kirk's dad, got shelved it is because (it seems) they had contract issues with the actors and it's reasonable to think that, even if they decided to only cast Pine and the others, thus give up about the other Chris without recasting him, they cannot use that story anymore. They need a different one. The Tarantino movie also was never supposed to get made this year, anyway, because he's busy at the moment.
I mean, regardless what happens it shouldn't necessarily mean they can't still, hypothetically, work with bad robot for more trek movies if they want to, or that JJ cannot produce feature movies still. In fact, bad robot produced 'the force awakens' with Disney all the while they still had a deal with Paramount.
I'm surprised some sites seem to notice it only now that the deal with bad robot is coming to an end. That information was well known even when they pretty much said they were making two more trek movies (and when they hired a director who was already meeting with the cast) . If the fourth movie, the script with Kirk's dad, got shelved it is because (it seems) they had contract issues with the actors and it's reasonable to think that, even if they decided to only cast Pine and the others, thus give up about the other Chris without recasting him, they cannot use that story anymore. They need a different one. The Tarantino movie also was never supposed to get made this year, anyway, because he's busy at the moment.
Paramount is a shambles. They may end up leasing out Trek akin to how Sony do Spider-Man. Or even selling the rights, which I'm sure CBS would gobble up.
it's one of the few successful franchises they have. They might be dumb in that they don't take enough advantage of it, and you could argue that sometimes it felt like they were sabotaging this trek after 2009. But I don't think they'll give trek away. However, it would be better if TV trek and the movies could collaborate and thus they could expand each other. They really accidentally stepped in a gold mine in this alternate reality too and it's a shame to waste it.
Paramount and Sony have been dueling for last place among the big studios for years now. Both have a lot of big budget flops and disappointments and they've been losing money. Sooner of later, they would be unable to keep their doors open and would be forced to close. Sony (parent company in Japan) was rumored to be mulling this over (with regard to their studio) back in 2016 after Ghostbusters flopped. Sony makes more on their Playstation, TV and home entertainment sets.
Paramount could sell Trek to someone else. Back in 2013, before Abrams left due to merchandise frustrations, among other things. It was reported that Viacom (owner of CBS and Paramount) makes roughly $20 million a year on TOS merchandise alone.
For comparison's sake, in 2013 (before Frozen came out) Disney reportedly makes $4 billion a year on their princess line of toys alone. Warners reported $4.5 billion worth of DC merchandise sales in 2016. Star Wars merchandise sales were $4.83 billion for 2017. Recently, Disney reported sales were down 4% for 2018.
I couldn't find numbers for all of Marvel, but on Spider-Man alone, Marvel makes $1.3 billion (circa 2014). In 2017, it was reported Deadpool sold the most merchandise of all CBMs from the previous year. Beating BvS, CACW, Suicide Squad, Dr. Strange and X-Men Apocalypse.
Compared to it's competitors, Star Trek is making no money when it comes to merchandise. Factor in movies and shows, and Trek is still behind. Mission Impossible is Paramout's golden goose. You can't blame Trek though. There's nothing wrong with the IP. The fault lies with the powers that be who don't support and promote their product like other studios do.
The MCU made a number of minor and obscure properties a hit.
DC just made Aquaman a billion dollar movie. Before that, they've been in spitting distance of a billion with other IPs.
Going back to Marvel. Most general audience members feel that the style and tone of GOTG, makes it this generation's Star Wars. Warners copied the GOTG style with Suicide Squad. Had big success financially, but not critically. However, they won the attention of CBM fans and the audience that likes the Fast and the Furious movies (Universal's multi-billion dollar franchise) and they've got the director of GOTG 1-2 directing their sequel. Paramount tried to copy that with Beyond and came up short. Mostly because they didn't promote the movie. As most audience members didn't know there was a new Star Trek movie in 2016.
TL;DR
Maybe it's smart for Paramount to sell their assets while they can and get out of the game. Since they're already being crushed by the competition and any further stagnation could see them phased out into obscurity. Sony is trying a hail mary pass with their Ghostbusters 3. After GB 2016 lost them $80 million. Paramount has come up short with Transformers, GI Joe, TMNT, and Star Trek. They can't afford a risk.
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