The Antipodean

'Pink Panther' delayed to 2006
Hmm, delays always make you wonder... I dunno, I love Steve, but I really can't see anybody but Sellers as Clouseau. Guess we'll have to wait 'til next year to see!


LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Sony Pictures said Monday it has pulled the Steve Martin comedy "The Pink Panther" from its summer schedule, delaying the movie until February 10.

The Shawn Levy-helmed comedy, starring Martin in the role made famous by Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, was one of the films absorbed by Sony when it acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. in April, and was scheduled for an August 5 bow.

"With the recent acquisition of MGM, we wanted to give our marketing department the time and opportunity to launch this very important franchise," Sony Pictures Releasing president Rory Bruer said. "We've seen the movie, and we really love this film. It's a franchise we believe in and are really excited about, and Steve Martin is great as Clouseau."

Groucho

What a load of bullshit. They are dumping it in February. The film must suck ass.

Fielding Mellish

As we all know, when a studio really, really loves a movie they always move it to February.



And in further news, Alan Smithee has just been elected head of the Director's Guild.

William Fuld

Seems smart to me. Bringing Down the House opened the first week of March and was a big hit.

dick_grayson

this movie should not have been made. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and just about all the SNL crew from back then should be put out to pasture (or shot) --with Bill Murray as the exception.

darqleo

The trailer was unfunny and I feel bad for Jean Reno (he was the best thing about it, I love that guy). And for Steve Martin talking in recent interviews of how he's trying not to ape Peter Sellers, he sure looks like it to me. But I don't care that much for the original PP movies anyway, so a terrible remake is no skin off my nose. But my g/f who is a big PP fan got really p*ssed off at the trailer and wondered why they even bothered in the first place.

devilshalo

Well, they did a couple of reshoots this past week.

Geofferson

Trailer looked pretty bad to me, so not surprised to hear of the reshoots.

DRG

Just to play devil's advocate here, August is kind of the "dumping ground" of the summer, whereas Februrary is often host to big releases. All that aside however, I think this one looked pretty terrible to begin with. I was actually less confident when I saw the trailer. I'm guessing Sony didn't agree with MGM's marketing idea either and have decided to find a new approach.

Josh H

"very important franchise."

What a load of horseshit.

mikewendt

I'd say this is a good thing... Keep it on the shelf.

scott shelton

The 2/10 date is not a dump on the studio's part.

Goldberg74

I didn't think that this movie deserved its own thread so I posted it to the "2005's Theatrical Release List" thread instead...

... but no one ever checks there.

Rogue588

but....but....but....Beyonce's in it!!!!!!!!111!!1

buckee1

vegasbaby

This thing was shot when Martin was still in his 30s ....

If it smells like a dog ....

Charlie Goose

I think Martin as Clouseau and Kevin Kline in the Herbert Lom character is great casting. However, this delay doesn't bode well for the movie.

scott shelton

Please explain why.

Charlie Goose

Postponing a high profile movie from a summer release to the wasteland of February is not a good sign, regardless of how the studio wants to spin it. If they thought it was any good, it would be released without extra thought to giving the "marketing department the time and opportunity to launch this very important franchise". Especially since this is the second time it's been delayed.
Plus, who is this Shawn Levy? He directed a bunch of cheesy TV shows aimed at pre-teens; Cheaper by the Dozen, a movie I couldn't sit through for more than ten minutes; and Just Married. I Googled the movie, and found nothing but negative reviews of the movie and trailer. That is what's causing the delay, not a clever marketing strategy.

scott shelton

*cracks knuckles*

OK...

PANTHER was a September release, then bumped to late summer. It never really had a set-in-stone release date.

Additionally, February is not a wasteland. I know we all went over this with the CONSTANTINE thread, and people got itchy about it, but the facts are there. PANTHER moving to the second week of Feb is not a dump.

Last year? HITCH - $43 mil

Year before? 50 FIRST DATES - $39 mil

Year before before? DAREDEVIL - $40 mil

If the right movie is in this slot, serious coinage can be made.

MGM, which owned PANTHER was purchased by Sony, which has caused a regime change - always a problem. Plus the box office isn't exactly friendly these days. It takes skill to make a hit. Just having a good film isn't enough *cough* CINDERELLA MAN*cough*

Like Levy or not (I don't), but he's turned out some big hits. In Hollywood's eyes, he's bankable.

I cannot comment on the quaility of PANTHER, and those reviews you "Googled" were test screening ones only, which are suspect to begin with.

pdinosaur

steve martin should be put out to pasture?

whatever. that's exceedingly harsh. and that's all that needs to be said about that.

fitprod

Um... Like it or not, test screenings are a key to maketing in Hollywood. Bad test screening make studios nervous, and as of late very few films can be saved after the test screening.

Comparing The Pink Panther's february release to Hitch and 50 First date is silly, those are romantic comedies, which are tied into Valentine's Day. The same can be said about comparing it to Daredevil, which had the added value of taking advantage of the hot comic book craze...

Sony's marketing team has pushed Pink Panther back so they can figure out how to polish a tird... Similar to Fox's third attempt to sell everyone on Fantasic 4, which will likely have a headline of "Fantastic Flop" the Monday after it is released. (But we can go into that in a FF thread...)

fitprod

scott shelton

It's not silly, I was showing the diverse types of films that score in that month. The examples stand. Do you want more?

Of course, I'm sure you'll say that PANTHER is some obscure indie title starring a guy who hasn't had any sizable hits in the last three years.

Whatever you want to think, man.

Giantrobo

Bey....Bey....Bey....yonce's....Big Butt!!!!11!!!!!!!11111

dick_grayson

not literally. lighten up. He hasn't been making funny movies in years. He should bow out gracefully. Happy?