Zombie VS Gladiators

'Bad news' often headlines around the world. It's all 'good marketing' so they say; that can't be bought.

The campaign needs a 'spin-doctor' (Creative Director) not a 'shaman'. See what I did there?

david, AS doesn't care what you think or your assessment. that's the significant point.

Are you kidding, Cubbie Fink? Well, I mean David. Kids love zombies not wee kids though.
And a zombie film is the best kind of film for a date night. Your girl or your guy gets scared and she holds on to you.

Joking apart, I see what you mean.

Zombieland was huge and i do believe they're making a tv series based on it. probably attract a younger crowd than The Walking Dead which is on it's 3rd season.

I don't know. It's definitely a tough decision. But just because they hired a professional to rewrite does not mean it is slated for production. There is a lot they plan to do before it gets to that point. They will make a test movie and then test it on the amazon on demand then from there if it gets a good response they will then move forward to production.

That all being said, there is a built in audience for Zombie movies, and there is a built in audience for Gladiator movies. Hopefully these two audience will combine to make one large audience. but like any movie, it all a craps shoot.

I'm not sure that the zombie lovers and the gladiator enthusiasts are the same crowd, though.

couldn't agree more. problem is, if this is what amazon is going for i'm in trouble. many of us are. hope amazon reads these comments.

Paying all this money and getting through all this trouble?
This is a novel way to construct a movie?
This is an innovative use of technology and resources?
This movie better be the movie to end all movie industry as we know it.

Actually a lot of other people have shared that doubts about ZvsG, but AS has, in their own silent way, made it pretty clear they don't care what we think about their selection process. Ours is to provide, probably get dumped, or for some good few, get paid. The difference from AA and other studios, as far as we are concerned, is that AA has promised to at least take a look at our script submissions, which is no small deal.

I think ZvsG is a solid concept, and AS by picking up a script from an established pro who has already had other scripts optioned and rewritten, is not a bad idea at all. I question the story itself, and if this is really the kind of film AA really wants to lead with it's first production. But it's their money.

@Emeline

I didn't say they were the same crowd. I said that if AS can entice the diehard fans of the two different types of movies, you could create one large audience.

I agree it might be harder to convince gladiator movie fans to buy into this premise, but I don't think zombie fans care much about what or who the zombies are killing. As long as they are killing something.

I think plenty of people your age would go see that movie, David. Just because they're young, doesn't mean they're pretentious artistes who won't go see a popcorn flick for fun.

We all go through the age you're going through right now. When we're in our 20s, we all think we've got significant things to say that the world needs to hear.

But we usually don't.

When we get older, we typically have more to say about the world, because we've lived those human drama moments we try so desperately to capture on screen. (Ask Calvin.) :)

AS should care about a young director's comments? Not unless your name is Zack Snyder, or something along those lines.

IF this ever gets made, it'll just be a fun little popcorn flick and nothing more. But then... "Zombies vs. Gladiators" never pretended to be anything else.

"Zombies vs. Gladiators" is a strong premise for a story. Imagine pitching a script and saying ok, I have "Dawn of the Dead" meets "300". I can see their mouths' already watering. The fact is, most premises are ridiculous. That's what people pay for.

It's escapist entertainment - and a fad. "Strike while the iron is hot" right?

"300" was about a real historical event that Frank Miller exaggerated to tell a morality tale about freedom. "Gladiator" was about a real historical person, and although the narrative was distorted by Ridley Scott, he did so to tell a morality tale about freedom. "Zombies vs Gladiators"... meh. I don't know how they make it about freedom. And I don't know how they can make any money if it isn't about freedom. And although I'm glad to see Clive Barker involved, I don't see him making it about freedom either.

There's always a market for these mash-ups. "Gladiators vs. Werewolves" is in post, I think, just to mention one. All you need is 1% of the potential audience to pay for tickets, and you've got a blockbuster.

There was an obscure Maximus, he just had nothing to do with Ridley Scott's creation. Maximus and his brother (whose name I forget) were a pair of generals that won an important victory against the Marcomanni tribes of Germany. For their trouble, Commodus had them both executed. He considered them a threat to his own popularity.

Commodus himself was killed by his girlfriend. Poisoned in his sleep if I recall.

@ Eric

That's actually not a bad idea. It remains to be seen if straying too far from history (Abe Lincoln as vampire hunter for example) will draw in theater-goers consistently. Quentin Tarantino rewrote WWII, but "Inglourious Basterds" didn't tear up the box office.

ZvG doesn't HAVE to be a $200m production, or even $100m. It could cost as little as $50m if it was done in a highly-stylised manner (eg, 300, Sin City) which would eliminate the need for massive sets and sweeping high-level CGI. If it sticks to the horror/adventure model it will attract an audience of horror fans seeking something a little different.

But I've said all along, if you make this PG13 (as was hinted at during Comic Con 2011) it WILL flop. It isn't exciting enough to attract that young audience, and it isn't gory enough to entice an older one.

When I heard the concept I thought it was great, and I'd love to see a well-made movie of it, but as soon as PG13 was mentioned it dropped off my radar immediately.

A smaller budget with big advertising, aimed at an adult audience should see a moderate success. Probably not immediately in the US, but certainly when the far east and Europe get it. But a $100-200m PG-13 CGI extravaganza, you're looking at John Carter and Immortals for your box office.