Mel Gibson Wants to Bring Unedited 'Passion' to TV
 

http://entertainment.excite.com/arti...7|reuters.html

Apr 14, 11:12 am ET

By Cynthia Littleton

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Will "The Passion of the Christ" play in primetime?

Mel Gibson's Icon Prods. has quietly started the process of shopping for TV licensing deals for "Passion," which is the first hugely successful film to come down the pike as a true free agent for pay TV and broadcast/basic cable licensing in more than five years, since Fox scooped up the rights to George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace."

Industry sources say each of the Big Four broadcast networks has been pitched the movie, along with HBO, Showtime and other major cable outlets.

Were it not for the movie's intense subject matter -- chronicling the painful last hours in the life of Jesus Christ -- broadcasters would likely be competing with big-money offers for the blockbuster, which has taken in more than $353 million domestically after less than two months in theaters.

But sources say Icon has made it clear to prospective buyers that the film must run in its entirety and that even some of the more graphic scenes of beatings cannot be edited down. That makes it a tough sell for the broadcast networks, which would undoubtedly have a hard time lining up advertisers for the controversial film even if edits were made.

Sources said Icon hopes to have "Passion" make its TV debut not too long after the film's home video release, expected to hit later this year through 20th Century Fox.

Reps for Icon declined comment.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


It will be interesting to see if this does in fact air, unedited, on network television.

Chris

well, schindler's list was uncut on nbc about 10 years ago. alright, the more "sexual" nudity was darkened.

My guess is that the FCC will have zero problem with this.

as long as nobody is naked in the movie, the fcc has no problems

Nor will the general public who was all up in arms about the Janet Jackson thing at the Super Bowl. I'm sorry, the majority of the populace in this country is just F'd in the H. Looks like another 4 years with Bush....

There could be a half-hour of nudity in this movie and the FCC would still look the other way.

Spike TV should pick this up.

It doesn't matter if 'Passion' shows Jesus sodomizing a goat. The fact that it is Jesus doing it, makes it just fine for everyone, and their kids!

I think Sci-Fi is trying hard to pick this up.

Hmmm, I'm not sure if you're trying to be funny or not! ;)

Chris

They can even recycle their Braveheart marketing: From a time when magic was real... :)

I'm just surprised in this day and age of DVD/video/etc. that network TV airings of theatrical movies are even a big deal anymore. I could understand when your only two options were the theater or a tv broadcast, but now? Just go rent/buy the dang thing.

Network airings aren't really a big deal, and even the airing of an extremely violent movie like this probably wouldn't have been a big deal if not for the ridiculous over-reaction to the Janet Jackson thing and the subsequent censorship of some network shows afterwards.

I somehow can't see this film chopped up with commercial interuptions. I know people who wouldn't even bring refreshments into the theater when viewing it.

Actually, networks still pay a surprisingly high sum to air theatrical films... and get surprisingly high ratings for them. I'm at a loss to understand it too.

Doesn't this make sense though? Not that I agree with it, but the FCC defines what obscene is:

By their standards, I don't believe The Passion falls into the category of obscene.

They would consider nudity (full) to be indecent, not obscene (depending on the context), where it would be limited to broadcasting at only certain times of day.

By their own standards, violence doesn't fall into the "indecent" standard, but may be considered obscene.

Too bad its not supposed to be the FCC's job to decide what is Obscene or not. That is supposed to be the courts decision, the FCC should only be enforcing those rulings.

I will buy it when it comes out on DVD, so TV broadcast will not matter much to me.

This will happen, without a doubt.

With proper warnings before and during any breaks I don't see a problem with this.

hey Mel, I get it, you're religious
now that Lucas is done using the studio space in Australia it's time for you to make Fury Road

Another thing...would a broadcast network actually want to air a movie with subtitles throughout? I dont think Ive ever seen a non-English movie on American television that wasnt dubbed.

Not to defend the FCC, but I believe they are using previous court rulings.... They even mention it in their description of "indecent."

And I disagree. I think its Congress's job to define obscenity. It is the court's job to determine whether or not their definition/restrictions are Constitutional.

So are they saying that Howard Stern lacks any artistic value? Humor doesn't count as art?

My new hero? rfduncan.