Anyone excited about the new RAMBO movie coming out, put up your hand! Oh, Nu-Image, not so fast. Seems there is trouble in the works that may mean bad things for Rambo.
Cinema Blend offers:
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the distribution rights to the Rambo property are in question. Nu-Image got the rights from The Weinstein Company in 2004, and have gotten moving on making the film. Meanwhile, they’ve approached Lionsgate about distributing the movie once it’s finished. Weinstein on the other hand, claims that they have first right of refusal on who gets to distribute it, and apparently they don’t want it to be Lionsgate since they’ve filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court.
So we know Stallone wants this (read: NEEDS this) and clearly Nu-Image wants it done (they bought the rights 2 years ago) and Weinstein Co hasnt said no, but they are calling the shots as far as distribution goes.
I mean really, are there not enough distribution companies out there? Why can’t Nu-Image just say, sorry guys, nothing personal, but Mr. W says we cant continue negotiations, and leave it be. Does it HAVE to be Lionsgate? Why is this a conflict?
Sure, Harvey Weinstein is notoriously vindictive when it comes to getting his way. But why cant the boys at Nu-Image just send an email to Weinstein and ask “what companies WOULD you approve of us for distribution” and move along their merry way.
But this could get messy, and all that often spells doom for a movie. How many movies were held back and money wasted on just to get all the legal crap out of the way? Superman alone went through dozens of scripts, legal rights battles, and even a number of people got paid to be in a Superman movie that was never made.
Eventually it did, but it was a LOT later than they had planned. Stallone doesnt have this luxury. His fitness is something of question to be playing these action roles, and NO ONE could play Rambo but Sly. If they bother to make a Rambo movie without him, they might as well change the name, and just stick with the plot.
Call it “Pissed off Guy with a Gun” and get The Rock to be in it. It will still sell.
