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Movie: 'Avengers 2' Could be In Trouble
Member Since: 3/27/2010
Posts: 6,259
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'Avengers 2' Could be In Trouble
‘Avengers’ Cast And Stingy Marvel To Rumble Over Sequel Cash & Strong-Arming
I know underneath is a long-ass article, but be patient. It is an interesting read. A deep look into how the production company, Marvel, tries to rip money form their actors. And how the profit of the largely profitable Avengers movie is allocated unfairly to different sides.
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Marvel and therefore owner Disney are going to run into big trouble on Avengers sequel because the upfront pay, backend compensation, break-even points and box office bonuses aren’t pinned down yet for several big stars and castmates. This is major hurdle that Walt Disney Co Chaiman/CEO Bob Iger hasn’t even mentioned to Wall Street or shareholders though he’s already been hyping Avengers 2 for more than a year now.
First and foremost Marvel does not have Downey in place yet. ”They need him, and they don’t have him. He’s got a lot of leverage,” one insider tells me. Much less so Scarlett Johannsen , Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson among others who were paid pittances for their first movies, not much better for the sequels, and are counting on at least $5 million upfront and better back ends for Avengers 2. That means much better than what Marvel claimed was Avengers’ break-even point: a whopping $1.1 billion in global grosses. (“If Avengers wasn’t profitable until then, why would you make it?” one rep pointedly asked Marvel top execs Kevin Feige and Louis Esposito.)
In a business where studio accounting is known as fatal subtraction and even worldwide blockbusters are still supposedly in the red, Marvel and its famously frugal CEO Ike Perlmutter still give new meaning to the term stingy. I’ve learned that one reason why The Avengers was nominated for only one Oscar – Best Visual Effects – in the 85th Academy Awards contest was because Marvel refused to pay for an awards season campaign for the picture. And even when Disney offered to foot the bill, Marvel still wouldn’t budge. (Yet the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences assembled the cast onstage to create buzz.) Here’s how one exec describes any negotiation with Marvel: “I wouldn’t say it’s brutal. It’s uncompromising, not mean or draconian. The fact is this is the reality of the world we’re living in right now.”
But The Avengers cast are ready to rumble with Marvel for the Avengers sequel slated for a May 2015 release. “Some received only $200,000 for Avengers and Downey got paid $50M. On what planet is that OK?” an insider tells me. CAA represents an overwhelming majority of the Marvel stars and is trying hard to keep the negotiations out of the public limelight and media headlines. But that may not be possible with some reps blaming the studio for ’scorched earth’ tactics past and present. ”Marvel has created so much animosity by strong-arming and bullying on sequels already. It’s counterproductive,” one source tells me. Says another, “I’m sick of Kevin Feige telling me again and again how Marvel is ‘reinventing the movie business’. It doesn’t work like this. They’re reinventing business, period.” I’ve learned Marvel already has threatened to sue or recast when contracts and/or options are challenged. That prompted a few cast members to respond, “Go ahead.” I hear Hemsworth especially wasn’t anxious to go back into that arduous diet and training regimen and subsist primarily on egg whites for Thor: Dark World which hits theaters November 8th. I also understand that Scarlett Johanssen told castmates she’s “not going to cut her quote” for Marvel’s Avengers 2. The actress as butt-kicking operative Black Widow in The Avengers and Iron Man 2 is wrapping Captain America: The Winter Soldier and has a whopping 8 options total.
Already a lot of brinkmanship played out for Captain America 2 and Thor 2. Calling it the “weirdest experience”, one rep still can’;t believe Marvel offered “only a $500,000 raise and then would pay another $500,000 when the movie hits $500M. Are they out of their minds?” When it was pointed out to Marvel that Hemsworth already had received $5M for his starring role in Snow White And The Huntsman, the studio shot back, ”I don’t know why you’re complaining when Marvel only has hit movies.” To which the response was, “He’s happier working at a place like Universal.” After hard-fought bargaining, Chris Evans for Captain America 2 and Chris Hemsworth for Thor 2 wound up with deals still weighted on the back end but at least with attainable break-even numbers and small upfront guarantees and box office bonuses.
The issue going forward is how many of the Avengers stars and starlets are still bound by early agreements and longterm options which Marvel can continue to exploit individually. To counter, I’ve learned the Avengers cast are becoming united behind Robert Downey Jr who is seen as the “leader” – like “a big brother” in the words of one rep - for all the younger actors in the ensemble. “He’s the only guy with real power in this situation. and balls of steel, too. He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like ****,” one source explains. Another rep tells me, “I have four words for Marvel – ‘**** you, call Robert.’” As Downey himself has said publicly about his $50M-plus payday, ”I’m what’s known as a strategic cost,” adding that Marvel is “so pissed” he earned that much.
Director Whedon admits that “Marvel can be very cheap” and believes the reason the cast aren’t ”getting giant quotes” is because of ”the element of the opportunity here for something that is both popular and very human, and usually you have to choose as an actor”. But Whedon does see the potential contract hardball as “an issue”.
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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Ch...if all of that is true. 
But I do remember articles being posted here when "Avengers" got released about how Chris H. got screwed.
I'm glad to heard Robert has some leverage, I guess that's why in all his interviews he said it was not up to him to be in A2 and IM4, the decision lies in the hands of Marvel. I see it now.
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Member Since: 3/27/2010
Posts: 6,259
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Originally posted by BnPac
Ch...if all of that is true.
But I do remember articles being posted here when "Avengers" got released about how Chris H. got screwed.
I'm glad to heard Robert has some leverage, I guess that's why in all his interviews he said it was not up to him to be in A2 and IM4, the decision lies in the hands of Marvel. I see it now. |
Yeah basically. Marvel doesn't even dare to talk about IM4.... because they don't know how may things change since they have to convince Robert to join the ship
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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But do you think they are going to make Avenegers 2 without him because one interviewer asked him if A2 was already being filmed, he said yes, it's currently being done but that he had no idea if he will be a part of it or not. That scares me, I'm not watching it if he's not in it. Or maybe I'll just watch it illegally a year after.
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Member Since: 3/27/2010
Posts: 6,259
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Originally posted by BnPac
But do you think they are going to make Avenegers 2 without him because one interviewer asked him if A2 was already being filmed, he said yes, it's currently being done but that he had no idea if he will be a part of it or not. That scares me, I'm not watching it if he's not in it. Or maybe I'll just watch it illegally a year after.
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Maybe test shoots are starting, but updates on the Avengers 2 still said it is not officially in the filming process (since none of the lead actors are in a done deal, I don't think they will start filming anytime soon.)
There are reports that Robert is right now in talk with Marvel about the Avengers 2 and Avengers 3, but still, it is not done deal for sure.
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 15,413
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The GREED of Marvel is huge.
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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Avengers 2 definitely has not started shooting yet. They've completed only an early draft of the script but are certainly nowhere near ready to enter production.
I can see Robert returning for a 2nd Avengers movie at the absolute most. I really don't see him agreeing to an IM4.
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Posts: 16,089
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Quote:
Originally posted by JasperX
Maybe test shoots are starting, but updates on the Avengers 2 still said it is not officially in the filming process (since none of the lead actors are in a done deal, I don't think they will start filming anytime soon.)
There are reports that Robert is right now in talk with Marvel about the Avengers 2 and Avengers 3, but still, it is not done deal for sure.
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Ok thanks. Let's see where we go from here.
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Member Since: 10/15/2011
Posts: 6,480
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I mean I don't blame Marvel tbh, they need to control the salaries, if everyone had a RDJ like contract they would never be able to make another Avengers movie... and it's not like the actors don't realize what they are signing up for. But I do think they could be more sensible in how they allocate the salaries across the cast and films.
It will be interesting to see how things play out though. If cast members are replaced or dropped then it would really start to show how strong Marvel as a franchise is against the influence of the actors they cast.
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Member Since: 6/10/2009
Posts: 10,622
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Member Since: 3/12/2011
Posts: 18,360
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What kind of non sense. Of course they can afford ANYTHING even 5 million for each of them. They refused campaign for best picture because they wouldn't have gotten nomination anyway, it was more than impossible. At the point of awards season no one even predicted that.
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Member Since: 3/12/2011
Posts: 18,360
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Just think about it... Counting extra 5 million for let's say 6 people makes only #30 more million.
Budget of the first part was $220 million plus for promotion for sure...
But come on they grossed Worldwide: $1,511,757,910
Do you really think they can't afford that 30 extra million? Don't make me go LOOOOOL
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Member Since: 9/1/2012
Posts: 2,748
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Not only does Downey get 50M, it's my understanding that he gets 5-7% of the profit of any movie in which he plays Iron Man.
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Member Since: 11/23/2011
Posts: 46,048
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Mess.
The movie won't be the same if any one of them are recast. 
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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Quote:
Originally posted by Pie-kun
Not only does Downey get 50M, it's my understanding that he gets 5-7% of the profit of any movie in which he plays Iron Man.
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Yeah but you have to remember that the 50M wasn't an up-front payment, most of that comes from the clause in his contract where he receives a fraction of the box office gross and merchandise earnings. Obviously if The Avengers had been less successful he'd have received much less.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 3,480
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Mess. They better not screw Chris H this time around
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 29,059
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I mean they could afford to give Chris E, Chris H, Mark Ruffalo $10M and Scarlett, Samuel&Jeremy $5M
It's not like Marvel is struggling financially and GOD knows that a sequel would make more than the 1st!
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Member Since: 3/12/2011
Posts: 18,360
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It's not like Marvel is financing this,. It's up to Disney (Buena Vista) 
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Member Since: 3/13/2011
Posts: 19,555
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 @ RDJ getting 50 million. All of them deserve raises, I really hope they don't have toe recast anyone.
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Member Since: 10/3/2010
Posts: 50,276
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Greedy ass bitches. Good thing I never payed for The Avengers. I do not use them.
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