Caffeinated Clint
Within the space of ninety minutes two stories have hit the web suggesting that Warner Bros and Zack Snyder’s working relationship may be a short one -just a question of who’s going to cheat on who first.
Warners has swung the first punch, replacing Snyder on the “300” prequel “Xerxes” with Guy Ritchie – who, of course, the studio loves after he painted the Burbank compound green with “Sherlock Holmes” returns last Christmas. Huge surprise, because Snyder had been working with graphic novelist Frank Miller on “Xerxes” and though not officially signed, Snyder had planned to do the movie.
So why has Warner decided to replace Snyder with Ritchie? Vulture suggests it could be because the studio wants him to concentrate fully on the “Superman” man they’ve hired Snyder to do. At the same time, they’re also hearing that Snyder’s latest film “Sucker Punch” hasn’t been testing very well and that’s spurred the decision to cut ties cleanly and swiftly.
One insider told the outlet, “[Sucker Punch] was bad; like, really bad. They’re [Warners brass] really not happy with it over there.”
That doesn’t surprise me, the film doesn’t look all-that appealing, but it is strange that Warner didn’t pick up the stench sooner.
Adding to Snyder’s problems is the fact that the script for his upcoming “Superman” movie – also at Warner Bros – apparently needs quite a bit of work. The third act for the reboot, which David Goyer is writing, is apparently in dire need of some Goldman.
”That”, adds Vulture, “plus with Snyder’s last two films (Watchmen and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole) having under-performed, some insiders posit that offering Ritchie Xerxes means that Warner’s ardor for all things Snyder may be cooling just a bit.”
Watch this Space.
