[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap]halk up another movie project getting canceled due to the hack and terrorist threat centered currently afflicting Hollywood. Gore Verbinski, best known for directing the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, The Lone Ranger, and Rango (which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2012), has spoken out about his scrapped film named Pyongyang that was set in North Korea and going to star current Golden Globe nominee Steve Carell.
Verbinski expressed his thoughts about the canceled project:
“Getting the facts straight:
Yesterday, I was told by New Regency and Fox that Fox will no longer be distributing the film. Prior to that, the film was green lit and fully funded by New Regency with Fox distributing. I have been told in no uncertain words that based on the situation at Sony, Fox has now decided to not distribute the film. Without a distributor, New Regency was forced to shut the film down.
My thoughts:
I find it ironic that fear is eliminating the possibility to tell stories that depict our ability to overcome fear.
Gore Verbinski”
Deadline reported that although Fox opted not to distribute the film, this did not keep the film from being picked up by another distributor; however, without a distributor set in stone, New Regency decided to pull out from the project completely.
The plot of the film was going to be based on the graphic novel of the same name by cartoonist Guy Delisle who was given a rare look at the culture and lives of those residing in the heavily shrouded country of North Korea.
Carell took to Twitter to share his disappointment with Fox and New Regency’s decisions regarding Pyongyang:
Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014
The Foxcatcher star then tweeted a photo of Charlie Chaplin in 1940’s The Great Dictator, which was a direct parody of Hitler and Nazi Germany:
Chaplin pic.twitter.com/LE5w3f3HAs
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 18, 2014
I think Steve made his point loud and clear.
The uneasy situation in Hollywood seems to be getting more unpredictable every day, and I sincerely hope that sooner than later, filmmakers and movie studios will be able to continue producing content without the fear of the repercussions of their art.
