Do people blame Nolan for sticking with Universal?
Empire City is sounding the alarm on the way Warner Bros is treating Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2.” The, supposedly, “final” film of Eastwood’s career will be hitting less than 50 theaters with no marketing support on November 1, and no planned expansion rollout.
Last month, Warner Bros had practically given away the trailer to PEOPLE Magazine in an “exclusive.” It couldn’t be found anywhere else online. It took hours before it finally showed up on YouTube.
Is Warners’ confidence that low on this film? “Juror #2’ had one of the best received trailers this fall. Dumping its trailer a month before release was already a red flag. I’ve spoken to a person who saw the film on the WB lot and they thought it was very strong.
Eastwood has been making movies with Warner Bros. for over 50 years. It’s been one of the most trustworthy and lasting director/studio friendships in the industry. Sadly, I don’t think Warners CEO David Zaslav gives a damn.
A leaked conference call had Zaslav complaining about Eastwood’s box-office flop “Cry Macho.” After executives told Zaslav that they had doubted the movie would turn a profit, Zaslav asked “then why did you make it if you had reservations?” When they replied that Eastwood had given the studio many hits and never delivered a movie late or over budget, he answered: “We don’t owe anyone any favors.”
Warners’ attitude towards Eastwood veers on the repugnant. That's not a way to talk about a man who brought your studio a ton of prestige over the last 50 years, with critically acclaimed and award-winning movies, not to mention a handful of more recent blockbusters (“American Sniper,” “The Mule,” “Gran Torino”).
For the time being, “Juror #2” is supposed to have its world premiere at AFI Fest on October 27. It releases in 50 theaters a few days later, on November 1.