What Could Happen to ‘The Matrix,' ‘Wonka,' and ‘Mad Max' Franchises Now That They Have New Owners?
All those films and others were the product of a reliable and lucrative co-production and co-financing deal Village Roadshow had with Warner Bros. Pictures dating back to 1997, all before Village Roadshow's bankruptcy and an ugly legal fight that continues over the decision to put 'The Matrix Resurrections' onto HBO Max day-and-date with theaters back in 2021.
More from IndieWire
All 29 Pixar Movies Ranked, from 'Toy Story' to 'Elio'
'Bride Hard' Review: Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp Endure a Shamefully Bad Marriage with Simon West
Perhaps inexplicably, Warner Bros. didn't win the rights to that library themselves, putting the studio in the unfortunate position to need to partner with a new company moving forward. So what happens to those franchises now?
Alcon is behind several Denis Villeneuve films like 'Blade Runner 2049,' 'Prisoners,' and 'Arrival,' films like 'Insomnia' and 'The Blind Side,' and it also most recently made the 'Garfield' movie for Sony and is working on the 'Blade Runner 2099' series for Amazon. With the addition of the Village Roadshow library, it gives Alcon one of the largest film libraries for an independent film company (Lionsgate excluded), roughly 150 titles.
While Alcon isn't today a partner with Warner Bros., it's possible they soon will be. Alcon acquired the Village Roadshow library, derivative rights, and cash flow with their bid. It's still just a 50 percent stake, but a press release announcing the news says the library generates roughly $50 million annually. Not too shabby. So to make any other follow-up or sequel based on one of these films in the library, both Warner Bros. and Alcon now have to agree upon it.
Why then did Warner Bros. not pick up the Village Roadshow library itself? A source told IndieWire Alcon is really just getting the participations and the naked copyrights to those Village Roadshow films, and WB still owns the distribution rights to those franchises, so it decided not to pursue acquiring the library.
Another source though says WB did make a bid — and was outbid — by Alcon. It stands to reason that WBD, with $37 billion still in debt, can't afford to throw around so much cash, even if it would pay off in the long term.
Alcon once upon a time had a rare put deal with Warner Bros., one that produced as many as three films a year for smaller movies like 'Dolphin Tale,' but that was the old Warner Bros., and this is the David Zaslav-run Warner Bros. Discovery. Times have changed, and WBD may still have a say in the matter.
Puck noted Thursday that Warner Bros. could contest the derivative rights to the Village Roadshow library, and that a hearing could take place this summer (Warner Bros. had no comment on rumors of a hearing).
But if Warner Bros. can't win back the derivative rights in court, you'd imagine it and Alcon would have to come to some sort of deal if they ever wanted to make yet another 'Matrix' or 'Ocean's' film, both of which WB already has projects in the works. Would Warner Bros. ever turn the distribution rights to one of these big franchises over to another studio if the right offer came along and Alcon wanted to force its hand? Who knows. But we'll be surprised if this marriage lasts as long as the Village Roadshow one did.
Best of IndieWire
Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See
'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie
Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Inside the Hulk Hogan Biopic with Chris Hemsworth and Why It Was Never Made
Hulk Hogan called the Netflix biopic's script "powerful," even hoping Chris Hemsworth would receive Oscar attention for his role Hulk Hogan's life story was almost a feature film before his death. The former wrestler, who gained fame in the '80s and '90s, died on Thursday, July 24 at 71. He was set to be portrayed by one of Hollywood's most chiseled actors, Chris Hemsworth, in a Netflix biopic. But, according to Hogan in a former interview, contract issues killed the project. First announced in 2019, the film was to be helmed by Joker director Todd Phillips. The Hollywood Reporter reported at the time that Hemsworth, 41, would play Hogan throughout his career and the movie would be "an origin story of the Hulkster and Hulkamania." In a 2020 interview with Total Film, via Comic Book, Hemsworth shared his excitement for portraying the rise of Hulkamania on screen. "This movie is going to be a really fun project," Hemsworth said. "As you can imagine, the preparation for the role will be insanely physical. I will have to put on more size than I ever have before, even more than I put on for Thor. There is the accent as well as the physicality and the attitude." "I will also have to do a deep dive into the rabbit hole of the wrestling world, which I'm really looking forward to doing," Hemsworth said, adding he'll also have to dye his hair blond and have a mustache to match the wrestler's iconic look. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In 2021, the film still seemed a go — with Hogan sharing an appreciative photo of the Thor actor showing off some bulky arms on Instagram. "My brother has that Hogan Pump on Jack, looks like he could slam Andre brother," Hogan captioned the shot, referring to late iconic wrestler Andre the Giant. (Hemsworth had originally posted the photo on his social media to celebrate wrapping Thor: Love and Thunder.) Three years later, during an interview with PDB Podcast, Hogan revealed while he loved the script and even believed Hemsworth could receive Oscar attention, the film had hit a dead end due to the contract. 'They kind of missed a beat in the contract," Hogan said, agreeing with host Patrick Bet-David when asked if Netflix was at fault. "There was a payment that wasn't placed at the right time. The script was amazing. Scott Silver, who wrote the script for Joker, Wolf of Wall Street, a bunch of other movies, said, 'This is the best thing I've ever written.' When I read it, I'm like, oh my god, this is really good." Hogan shared that he worked with Silver for three years, noting it was "very, very dark" but it "was probably what the public may want to see." "When I read it I was like, 'Oh my gosh, if this thing comes out…' there was talk that Chris Hemsworth had never played a real person before and he could probably win an Oscar, this thing is so powerful," Hogan added. In a 2024 interview with Variety, Phillips, 54, also confirmed the film was scrapped. "I love what we were trying to do, but that's not going to come together for me," he said. Hogan had starred in various films himself, including appearing in Rocky III as Thunderlips, as well as having roles in No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny. On television, he starred in the series Thunder in Paradise and Hogan Knows Best, and had guest appearances on shows like Baywatch and American Dad!. Hogan was recently the subject of the 2017 Netflix film, Nobody Speak, which focused on his high-profile lawsuit against Gawker, the online news outlet that published a sex tape without his permission. The years-long suit ended with Hogan being awarded a multimillion-dollar settlement in 2016, and Gawker and its affiliated websites were later sold off when the company declared bankruptcy. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Geek Tyrant
17 minutes ago
- Geek Tyrant
Thrilling and Fun New Trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER — GeekTyrant
Warner Bros has released the second official trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film One Battle After Another , and it looks like Anderson's most action-driven project yet. The movie promises an intense blend of political intrigue and personal stakes. The story follows Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a former revolutionary on a desperate mission to rescue his daughter after she's arrested. The official logline reads: 'When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own's daughter.' The movie is inspired by Thomas Pynchon's postmodern novel Vineland , and it feels like a gripping mix of Anderson's meticulous character work and explosive, large-scale action. The cast includes Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Benicio del Toro as 'Sensei,' Shayna McHayle, and Chase Infiniti as Ferguson's daughter. The new trailer teases more character dynamics and escalating tension, all leading toward a high-stakes showdown between Bob and the feds. As one might expect from PTA, the visuals are rich with grit and atmosphere, and the tone hints at a slow-burn thriller that explodes into chaos when the moment comes. Watch the trailer below and get ready for what is sure to be a great film. One Battle After Another when it's released in theaters on September 26th.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Will Hulk Hogan still get a posthumous biopic starring Chris Hemsworth?
Hulk Hogan never got the biopic treatment while he was alive. The WWE legend, who died Thursday at age 71, was supposed to be played by Chris Hemsworth in a Netflix movie, but the project was scrapped entirely by the time Hogan passed away. TMZ reported that the pro-wrestler died after 'a cardiac arrest' call was placed from his home in Clearwater, Florida. 11 Hulk Hogan at the Comedy Central Roast Of David Hasselhoff in 2010. Getty Images The biopic about Hogan was first announced by Netflix in February 2019, with Hemsworth, 41, to star and Todd Phillips set to direct. The Hollywood Reporter reported at the time that John Pollono and Scott Silver were writing the script. Silver, 60, and Phillips, 54, co-wrote Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker,' which came out that same year. 11 Chris Hemsworth at the 'Limitless: Live Better Now' UK premiere in London on July 17. FilmMagic 11 Todd Phillips attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party in Beverly Hills in January 2020. Getty Images for BAFTA LA The biopic, per Deadline, was going to 'center on the rise of Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, and his 'Hulkamania' both in wrestling and as a pop culture icon.' The outlet also confirmed that Hogan's life rights were acquired in the deal and that he joined the project as a consultant and executive producer. However, years went by, and no progress was made on the film, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic causing production delays in Hollywood in 2020. 11 Hulk Hogan on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' in 1994. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Hemsworth gave an update on potentially playing Hogan on the big screen in a June 2023 interview with Chris Van Vliet. 'Let's hope. I don't know what is happening with it at this point,' the 'Thor' star stated. 'But there is a good story there I would love to tell.' 'I know Todd Phillips has been deep with The Joker and we have had conversations,' Hemsworth added. 'Fingers crossed.' 11 Chris Hemsworth in 'Thor: Love and Thunder.' ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection A year later, Phillips officially confirmed that the biopic was dead. 'I love what we were trying to do, but that's not going to come together for me,' the director told Variety in August 2024 while promoting 'Joker 2.' During an appearance on the 'PDB Podcast' in October 2024, Hogan explained why his biopic never came to fruition. 11 Hulk Hogan at the premiere of 'War Of The Worlds' in June 2005. Getty Images 11 Hulk Hogan and Tony Atlas wrestling. Corbis via Getty Images 'They kind of missed a beat in the contract. There was a payment that wasn't placed at the right time,' he claimed nine months before his death, adding that the film's script 'was amazing.' 'Scott Silver, who wrote the script for 'Joker,' 'Wolf of Wall Street,' a bunch of other movies, said, 'This is the best thing I've ever written,'' Hogan recalled. 'When I read it, I went, 'Oh my god, this is really good.'' The '3 Ninjas' star continued: 'At the time, I was in a space where I told him the positive stuff about wrestling and the negative stuff about wrestling. Spent about three years with this writer going back and forth. When I read it, it was just very, very dark, if that would be the right word. But it was probably what the public may want to see. When I read it I was like, 'Oh my gosh, if this thing comes out…'' 11 Hulk Hogan speaks onstage during the 2024 Republican National Convention. Getty Images 11 Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel. ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection 'There was talk that Chris Hemsworth had never played a real person before and he could probably win an Oscar, this thing is so powerful,' Hogan added. But Hogan explained that he was worried the biopic would ultimately be 'the last thing people remember me for.' 'So I just was moving forward at the time, and when they business-wise missed a date, there was an option for me to pull out — and I did,' he revealed. 11 Hulk Hogan in the wrestling ring during his Hulkamania Tour in 2009. Getty Images The sports icon said at the time that he would still do the film with the same script, but acknowledged there's other avenues to share his life story. 'There's also documentary, a check and balance system, there's also a four-hour block of TV like the OJ [Simpson] stuff to tell the real story,' Hogan noted. 'The check and balance system, what it did do was it took me right up to the time I turned bad guy. Until I turned into 'Hollywood Hogan.' So if this movie did blow through the roof that they expected it would, then there would be another one which would be really cool.' 11 Hulk Hogan at Maple Leaf Gardens in Canada. Toronto Star via Getty Images Hogan also made it clear he wanted 'creative control' over his biopic and that the film needed to 'be a balance.' When the host asked Hogan if someone could make a film about him without his permission, the WWE legend replied, 'They can do it, but they could be in a really bad position legally if they don't have me involved.' 'There's so many hills and valleys when you do something without someone's permission,' he added. The Post reached out to Netflix and Hemsworth for comment.
