The Adventures of Tintin

[Sentinel X]

Some are calling it a great display of passion and integrity, others an act of minor lunacy.

Steven Moffat has turned down a $1 million movie deal with Steven Spielberg so he could take on his dream job of running the British international hit sci-fi series "Doctor Who" says The Daily Mail.

The BAFTA-winning scriptwriter, who created such shows as "Coupling" and "Jekyll", had signed a $2 million contract to write the first two scripts for a trilogy of "Tintin" films that Spielberg and Peter Jackson are directing.

Moffat completed the first one just before the writers' strike hit and he couldn't start on the next. During the strike he was offered the "Doctor Who" job and accepted immediately.

Moffat, taking over for Russell T. Davies who has been in charge of the show since its revival in 2005, has penned the most acclaimed episodes of the new show's first four seasons so far - thus his eventual hiring had long been set in place before the offer officially came.

As the show is very demanding, Moffat felt he couldn't handle both projects at once and so had to drop one. Spielberg himself, a big fan of the show, "understood my passion for the series completely" says Moffat and let him out of the contract.

It's a bold move - the job as 'Who' producer involves not only a lot more work but a paycheck only about 30% of that which he'd get for penning the second "Tintin" script.

Yet the show has been an ambition of Moffat's since he was a kid, and while not very well-known in the United States (then again neither is "Tintin"), an average new 'Who' episode reaches a global audience of about 250 million.

Moffat begins his 'Who' writing duties right away though his episodes won't begin airing until March 2010.

It's unsure now who'll pen the second "Tintin" project which is slated to be directed by Peter Jackson sometime in 2009. Spielberg gets to work filming the Moffat-penned first film later this year.

Wow...If I was in the film-industry I would only turn down Steve if it was something I REALLY REALLY love...other then that I'd cut of my left hand to work with him. So he must really be passionate about this and its obvious that he is someone who doesn't work for money but rather what he truly cares about so good for him I say

The first episode will be based on two of the books, “The Secret of the Unicorn” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure,” written by Tintin creator Herge between 1942 and 1944.

I'm gonna have to find these two and give them a read.

Found a piece from Red Rackham's Treasure.

Whoa!! No way!
I have that book its in french however. The 'Secret of the Unicorn' and 'Red Racklham's Treasure' basically tie in to each other. Its a really fun read so this will be very exciting
I can't wait to see professor Calculus, hes my favorite charecter

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Spielberg Still Directing First Tintin
Source: The Hollywood Reporter August 26, 2008

Although Brussels' Herge Studios said Tuesday that Peter Jackson was moving into the director's chair for the first Tintin movie, The Hollywood Reporter says both Jackson's and Spielberg's camps insist that Jackson in fact remains attached to direct the sequel, though he will still be a producer on the first.

Steven Spielberg remains committed to directing the first in a planned trilogy for DreamWorks. It will be his next directing effort after this summer's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

In the meantime, Jackson will finish post-production on The Lovely Bones for DreamWorks/Paramount before moving on to co-write the two "Hobbit" movies for New Line and MGM.

The first Tintin feature, written by Stephen Moffat ("Doctor Who"), will be based on two of the books, "The Secret of the Unicorn" and "Red Rackham's Treasure," written by Tintin creator Herge between 1942 and 1944.

The movies will be animated with motion-capture technology and star 18-year-old Thomas Sangster as Tintin and Andy Serkis as his friend Captain Haddock.

Nice. Spielberg is by far the better director.

 

[Sentinel X]

Nice. Spielberg is by far the better director.

I haven't seen any film where Peter Jackson tackles drama or horror but as far as fantasy I think Jackson beats Spielberg. Fantasy is Jackson's genre and I'd be more interested in his vision the Steve's but they're both amazing directors. So color me excited!

 

[Carmine Falcone]

I'm already thinking about possiblities for the next films.... I think Flight 714 has a big chance to be made into a movie (Indy 4 reminded me of it a bit actually). But if I had to put money on it, I'd say they'll make the 7 Crystal Balls/Prisoners of the Sun and Destination Moon/Explorers on the Moon stories. The other two-parters in the series.

But let's see how the first one turns out.

 

[MoPlaYa]

So when does filming for this movie start?

 

[Electrix]

September

 

[MoPlaYa]

Cool...Any cast news yet?

 

[Electrix]

Cool...Any cast news yet?

Just Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock and Thomas Sangster as Tintin at the moment.

 

[matrix_ghost]

I'm already thinking about possiblities for the next films.... I think Flight 714 has a big chance to be made into a movie (Indy 4 reminded me of it a bit actually). But if I had to put money on it, I'd say they'll make the 7 Crystal Balls/Prisoners of the Sun and Destination Moon/Explorers on the Moon stories. The other two-parters in the series.

But let's see how the first one turns out.

Heh i think we rule out TinTin in Africa

 

[terry78]

I posted this in the Superman thread, but wonder if this is the route they may go.

[YT]Pyhf3JmODHE[/YT]


He's a tad ugly to be Tintin, but that hair is on point.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I haven't seen any film where Peter Jackson tackles drama or horror but as far as fantasy I think Jackson beats Spielberg. Fantasy is Jackson's genre and I'd be more interested in his vision the Steve's but they're both amazing directors. So color me excited!

Weren't PJ's Pre-LOTR movies horror-esque? Someone enlighten meeeee....

 

[The Amazing Lee]

Peter Jackson tackled Horror in the same way in which Sam Raimi tackled Horror...well, in an Evil dead 2 type of fashion.

 

[Electrix]

Universal Pulls Out of Tintin

 

[terry78]

Yeah like the article says those two could finance it themselves.

 

[matrix_ghost]

Doubt it. SPielberg and Jackson may be rich but they aren't that rich to entirely fund their own movies. There are very few people who can do that. However i do find it odd that Universal bailed on the project because they can't cough up half of the 130 million budget.
http://www.imdb.com/news/ns0000003/#ni0569521

Spielberg, Jackson Can't Get Budget OK For Tintin
19 September 2008 10:36 AM, PDT


With studios finding it especially difficult during the current financial storm to find funding for their pictures, Universal Pictures has rejected a film submitted to it by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, the Los Angeles Times reported today (Friday). The final budget for their 3-D animated Tintin had come in at $130 million. In reporting the studio's decision, the Times commented, "Universal's refusal to finance Tintin underscores how in today's tough economic climate, bottom-line concerns trump once-inviolable relationships between studios and talent. Until now, however, filmmakers of Spielberg's and Jackson's stature were thought to be immune to the brass-knuckles tactics of the studios. Squeezed by a business trapped between rising costs and leveling revenues, the two filmmakers are Hollywood's latest -- and most prominent -- victims of cost containment." The newspaper also observed that Universal's decision places Spielberg in a position of "embarrassment" as he prepares to end his relationship with Paramount. Many had supposed that Universal, where he maintains his offices, would become the distributor for Spielberg's DreamWorks productions. Now, it is supposed, he will presumably have to go "hat in hand" (as the Times put it) to Paramount in hopes of getting the Tintin film made.

Paramount and Universal would split the budget. But really , UNiversal can't come up with 65 million. For spielberg and Jackson . And they were able to cough up 65 million for Wanted and 145 million for The MUmmy 3.

Weird .
Speculation on my part but i think there could be two reasons
1 Spielberg and Jackson were demanding/asking their usual gross deals. Universal declined saying that since they were the ones coming up with the cash , they should be the ones getting first dibs in the profit.

2 Tin Tin is going to be made with the same technology that James Cameron is using to create Avatar. We have no idea just how expensive that technology is but movies always have deadlines. Normal thing of course , but it becomes a problem when a movie gets more VFX shots to finish. The timeframe is very short and the studio/producers need to spend more money to get all those VFX shots done. That is one of the reasons why the 2nd and 3rd POTC movie cost so much. Even with Spielberg , you can see the same thing. In terms of scale , design and VFX shots , Minority Report is more complex then War Of The Worlds. Yet Minority Report cost less then WOTW. WOTW was made in 9 months , almost unheard of these days.
SO maybe that's why the studio got cold feet with fears that the budget would rise . EVen if you look at Avatar , there are reports that the budget has increased quite alot from the initial number of 195 million. Variety reported that the budget is now somewhere between 250-300 million.

It's also weird that Universal bailed on two Peter Jackson projects. Halo and now Tin Tin.

 

[matrix_ghost]

Good news. Project is saved after all with Paramount now funding the movie 100 %
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/

UPDATE: Viacom Offers 100% 'Tintin' Financing To Spielberg & Jackson Duo


TOLDJA! I broke the news last Monday that Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson were dialing for dollars now that Universal had declined to exercise an option to co-finance the family movie Tintin set to begin filming in October with Spielberg directing. (Weirdly, both the Los Angeles Times and Radar waited five days to weigh in, and then ridiculously claimed how this was such a setback for Steven and Peter.)

Back to my own reporting. I'm told Spielberg and Jackson began looking other places for the money, and had just talked to Walden Media. But the pair were still waiting to hear back from Paramount (which hadn't yet passed, contrary to what Radar wrote). Now my sources say parent company Viacom just offered the bigtime directors 100% Tintin financing. So it's Spielberg/Jackson's turn to get back to Paramount with a yea or nay.

So those other media were both out-of-date and dead wrong.

another post why universal declined:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/09/19/universal-tells-spielberg-no-on-financing-tintin/

Universal Tells Spielberg 'No' on Financing Tintin
September 19, 2008
Source: LA Times
by Kevin Powers


Back in August we wrote that there seemed to be some confusion over who would be directing the long-in-the-works Tintin - Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson. A recent article in the LA Times reinforces what most have thought for a while - that Spielberg would direct the first film of the three films, while Jackson the second - but brings up a much larger concern for the duo and the project. Reportedly, Universal has backed out of co-financing the production with Paramount, rejecting the $130 million budget. I can't say Tintin is high on my radar, considering it's a European comic strip that was published between 1929 and 1976. Nevertheless, giants like Spielberg and Jackson not getting their way is certainly newsworthy.

The newspaper speculates on why Universal said no, and it appears the primary reason is the large budget versus potential commercial success. Spielberg and Jackson aren't cheap by any means, nor is animated 3D exactly a huge draw. 2007's Beowulf made roughly $190 worldwide with a reported budget of $150 million. However, folks are saying that Tintin would need to make an estimated $425 million in order for the studio to break even, given the directors' demands on revenues from the various sale channels. I'm no expert on the math associated with such heavy hitters, crossing studios or motion capture 3D, but a project at that's up at that kind of level definitely feels like a stretch for anyone.

Interestingly, Spielberg's DreamWorks is supposed to split from Paramount soon, yet the studio has financed nearly $30 million upfront for Tintin, and hoped Universal would come in and help with the rest. Spielberg's split with the studio hasn't exactly been kind, so we've got to wonder what this means for Tintin. Can Spielberg go back to Paramount and convince them to finance the entire project, or can he get help elsewhere? Also noteworthy is that Universal is a top choice to distribute DreamWorks' new films once it splits from Paramount. So does the studio telling Spielberg 'no' put that relationship in jeopardy?

This is all pretty high-minded Hollywood negotiations, so it's anyone's guess what will happen to Tintin. But given Spielberg's track record, you would think that the guy will eventually get his way, especially since he's coveted the property since 1983. Apparently Paramount executives have seen a representative 10-minute clip of the film and are deciding whether to finance the entire thing. If they do, Tintin may begin production next month. If not, it may never see the light of day. Do you want to see Tintin get made?

 

[TheComicbookKid]

I can understand the hesitation. TINTIN isn't popular in the U.S and you need to make at least 200 million in the U.S, probably, to start making money.

 

[matrix_ghost]

Tin Tin may not be that popular in the states but it quite wellknown outside the states. I'm pretty sure the movie can make 400 million outside the US alone. This is one of those properties that doesn't need the US BO to survive. There are certain movies that where the US is the primary market ( like comic book movies ) and others that do better outside the US ( James Bond)
Look at the Potter movies. To date only the 1st Potter flick has hit 300 million. The rest has never hit that mark though some have come close. Despite that the bulk of the boxoffice revenue comes from foreign markets.

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Domestic: $317,575,550
Foreign: $658,900,000

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Domestic: $261,988,482
Foreign: $617,000,000

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
Domestic: $249,541,069
Foreign: $546,000,000

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
Domestic : $290,013,036
Foreign : $606,003,123

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Domestic: $292,004,738
Foreign: $646,464,126

Tin Tin doesn't exactly need to be massive hit a la Transformers . But the fact that Spielberg himself believes in this movie , tells me that this movie has commercial value in the US

 

[terry78]

They're basically going to have to merchandise the **** out of this thing. The property is internatonally well known, but here in the states, where you have to admit it matters the most, they'll have to do video games, fast food tie-ins, logos on backpacks, etc.

 

[Octoberist]

Terry, I agree that they will merchandise this sucker. The thing that bothers me is when people say that this is not a 'known' property, therefore it will bomb. BULL.

If that's the case, we're stuck with sequels and remakes forever. That means that Lord of the Rings would never get made into films because it's not 'mainstream enough'. Same goes with Iron Man. That kind of logic does not fly with me.

 

[Octoberist]

btw, i really think that Speilberg will get this baby financed by Dreamworks' latest business partner, based in INDIA. I can't see how these 2 directors can get pushed around like this; it just shows how times have changed thanks to the economy.

 

[matrix_ghost]

btw, i really think that Speilberg will get this baby financed by Dreamworks' latest business partner, based in INDIA. I can't see how these 2 directors can get pushed around like this; it just shows how times have changed thanks to the economy.

Exactly.
The days of actors and directors getting a large percentage of the gross/profits are almost over. It's getting tougher and tougher for studios to make a profit when a big chunk of the money goes to the actors. At the same time i can understand why studios take these drastic measures. If i was a studio head i'd rather the movie first make back tit's budget before splitting some of the profiuts among certain key players.

But studios/producers tend to get too focused on the a movie making money and not so much on the movie itself. Fox is perfect example of a studio making sure their movies make back their budgets and delivers profits with Pg-13 ratings , short running times and changing movies to such an extent that they become commercial even though the source material isn't commercial at all. ( LXG).

Actors and directors do get paid big time for certain roles. Daniel Radcliffe is getitng something like 15 mil for each potter movie. TObey Maguire will get 50 million for both spidey 4 and 5. And i'm sure Daniel Craig will get a salary upwards of 10 million for QoS. But these are largely known properties. It's fairly safe to say that these movies will become massive hits and someone seriously effed up badly if these movies perform less then 100 million domestic.

It's the first movies of potential franchises that worry studios. "Will it be a success ? How big will the movie be ? Do we have to spend more then 100 million ? How much do we need to pay the key players ? Will we make a profit after everything gets their money ?" etc. These are the questions that plague to studios lately.
Status doesn't matter anymore.


ANyway going back to Tin Tin. WHile it is true that Spileberg has finalised his deal with Reliance ( the indian company) i'm still not sure if Tin Tin will be funded by the reliance group. DreamWorks is now in the hands of Paramount and the whole deal with Reliance was that Spielberg could develop movies independently from Paramount. Now it's reported that Paramount will fund Tin TIn 100 %. So i dunno if we'll see a Reliance funded TIn TIn.


A Ghost In The Shell movie on the other hand

 

[Retroman]

Good to hear they got the financing sorted out.

Just having Spielberg and Jackson's names attached to these films will get people interested in Tintin who weren't before.

In the next year or so they'll probably start re-airing the animated show and republishing the books again to familarize a new generation with the characters.

 

[deathshead2]

If they really are going to merchandise the hell out of it like that one guy says. I hope that means the old tintin show that was on Nick in the 90's will be released on dvd.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Anybody else heard the rumour about Pegg&Frost playing the Thompson Twins?