Despite my misgivings about the
current trend of tossing young actresses into the fairy-tale princess box, I must concede that
the second trailer to Universal's
Snow White and the Huntsman looks like a pretty solid action-adventure (Charlize Theron looks to be having a blast). While I would be shocked if the film did well enough to justify its $175 million budget, there is little reason to presume that it won't be a solid hit in terms of reasonable expectations. In fact, among women, the film tops
a recent Fandango poll regarding which would-be summer blockbuster they are more anticipating most with 22% of the vote. So the good news is that if the film is a hit, it will further establish a viable marketplace for female-centric action pictures, which will surely spawn a franchise featuring Kristen Stewart's Snow White doing battle with other various fantastical threats, right? According to Universal COO Ron Meyer, speaking to
The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is indeed interested in doing a sequel if the film is a big enough hit. But said sequel would not focus on Snow White, but rather Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman. So the answer to the prior question is... Nope.
"Meyer said that while the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman doesn’t appear to lend itself to a sequel, Universal thinks it can do more movies based on the character of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) if it is successful."
That's nice... So the film is heavily-anticipated by female audiences, arguably somewhat based on the star power of Kristen Stewart (who hasn't had a mainstream test of her box office bankability since the
Twilight Saga started). The film is being sold as a Snow White-as action hero-re-imagining of the classic fairy tale. And if it flops or under-performs, pundits will surely point the finger at Stewart and/or the meme that mainstream audiences won't flock to female-driven fantasy films,
Hunger Games be damned. But if it's a hit, Stewart still doesn't get a franchise because Universal wants to focus on the strapping male heartthrob instead. In short, Universal is partially selling the film as a female-centric fantasy adventure, with all the 'female empowerment' memes that go along with that, meanwhile plotting in the back of their offices to ditch Snow White for the later films even if it becomes a hit. I'm presuming I don't need to explain what's disconcerting about that.
Scott Mendelson
sigh, that thinking will bite them in the butt. just promote this as what it is, a modern take on a fairy tale. don't force it.
ReplyDeleteThis was a little disappointing in what it says on how Meyer feels about female-led movies, but my feeling is that I want to focus on the movie that is coming out, not on possible sequels.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I think Meyer is getting ahead of himself anyway.
I find Meyer's comments even more interesting when you consider that the director of the film has stated that he has a trilogy in mind for this version of Snow White...
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!!! I will NOT see the sequel if Kristen Stewart is not in it!!!!! She has to , what are they going to call 'The Huntsman' umm no thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo if SWATH can't attract the male audience like Thor did will this be Hemsworth fault? If this story is true it seems like a lot of pressure to put on a 22 year old actress. I like Kristen Stewart and I hope this film is a huge success. Maybe then she will get the respect she deserves.
ReplyDeleteI believe the LA Times said the cost was $175 million but that has to include marketing expenditures. At Wondercon Rupert Sanders said the budget was $70 million. Even if he low-balled it, that's a huge stretch. Care to clarify?
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, It is probably a lot easier to spin a new plot based off the Huntsman. Snow white is a self-contained story it doesn't warrant a sequel. It's also smart for them to cash in on Hemsworth right now, he's going to be making the studios alot of money for the next few years. That's the bottom line. Hollywood doesn't care about female empowerment just like it doesn't care about people of colour.
ReplyDeleteThat's... interesting. I think I'd have to see the movie before I knew whether or not this would make any sense, but for now this just seems absurd. Unless Snow White dies at the end of the movie.
ReplyDeleteI've read the $175 million figure in enough places to accept it at this point. I severely doubt, even in this day of insane marketing costs, Universal would spend $105 million to market a $70 million franchise-starter. Moreover, the film *looks* like it cost an arm and a leg (that's a compliment), and I cannot fathom that Snow White and the Huntsman somehow cost $15 million LESS than Mirror Mirror. But I'll gladly eat crow (and applaud him) if Sanders brought this thing in at under $120 million.
ReplyDelete