When Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdi took over as Warner Bros. co-heads. In early June 2021, after the film studio was established, the first decision they made was to continue filming the sequel clownThe Oscar-winning, $1 billion hit helped redefine what comic book movies could achieve.
In fact, all the key deals had been done by their predecessor Toby Emmerich, with A-list director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix getting paid $20 million for the film’s net budget A whopping $190 million (the first movie cost $55 million). Phillips is a huge asset to his home studio, Warner.
One small thing that remains unresolved is Lady Gaga’s benefits package. Within weeks, the papers were signed—her salary was $12 million—and she was officially on board. Clown: Pas de deux.
Abdi and DeLuca could have refused to do the movie, but given the stunning success of “The Movie,” they would have become the laughing stock of Hollywood. clown It had a record-breaking run at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time until Deadpool and Wolverine Coming. But over the weekend of October 4-6, everyone at Warner, including the executive duo, was in shock pas de deux The film flopped at the box office in its debut, grossing $37.8 million domestically and becoming the first comic book movie in history to receive a D CinemaScore. According to a source, Phillips spent the weekend in isolation on a ranch he owned.
In the country, pas de deux Opening time is much later than DC 2023 The Flash ($55 million) and Marvel Studios’ Marvel’s ($46.1 million), both of which were major bombs. It also lags behind Sony’s relatively cheaper Mobius ($39 million).
“It was a complete rejection by the audience,” said a source close to the film.
overseas, pas de deux It was expected to gross $81 million, in line with expectations but still significantly behind the first film.
While this is not the lowest opening price for a movie based on a DC character in North America, Clown: Pas de deux is a major stumbling block. Yet numerous sources tell us THR No studio chief in Hollywood – except perhaps Sony Pictures’ Tom Rothman – would refuse to make a sequel to a movie that was both a commercial and critical success. Additionally, Addy and DeLuca were ordered by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to fill a bare cupboard in the wake of the Warner Bros. Discovery popcorn project disaster that set the entire 2021 year’s slate of slates are sent to the streaming service Max, day-and-date, thus alienating talent. Zaslav is also keen to make fuller use of the company’s intellectual property.
“It was a collective failure, but it was the right thing to do to make this movie,” said one veteran producer and financier, noting that Phillips is an excellent director. Who made billions for Warner between the first and second movies clown and the Hangover Movie.
Still, observers wondered how DeLuca and Abdi could helm a film that was so far off the track that audiences wanted or expected.
Perhaps there’s an answer: Phillips was given extraordinary autonomy and final cut. While no test screenings were held, insiders say this was a decision made jointly by the film’s producers and Warner Bros. to preserve spoilers. This decision is truly mind-boggling, as there are no plot spoilers for this movie, not even for movies like Marvel Studios’ “Spoilers.” Avengers: Endem Multiple test screenings were conducted.
at first clownFormer DC Films president Walter Hamada was involved in the project and received executive producer credit. This time, no DC brass was involved, as DC was in near disarray when the project was approved. It would be several months before James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired to run the division and form DC Studios.
Since Phillips’ main expertise was comedy, Emmerich limited the first film’s budget to $55 million and brought in co-financiers including Blum and Country Roadshow to mitigate risk. sources revealed THR Alcon, backed by FedEx giant Fred Smith, eventually invested in Village Roadshow and was eager to take a stake pas de deux. However, the Zaslav regime did not want to see so much money lost, and the sequel had only one co-financier, its fixed financing partner Domain.
On Sunday, Warners made no attempt to sugarcoat the film’s performance or suggest it had a chance to catch on after being rejected by fans — unless people wanted to see it because of the “hate” factor. They also didn’t point fingers internally, such as in marketing, as often happens after a movie blows up.
“This is a huge disaster, but what are the consequences? Who is to blame?” one source asked.
But both Gunn and Phillips have stressed in recent days that they are not collaborating on the project, and Gunn responded to a fan’s question on social media asking why the DC Studios logo wasn’t on the front of the film. The filmmakers ——The executive wrote, “Because this is not a DC Studios movie.” He then added, “All future movies with DC characters will be produced by DC Studios.” (There is a DC logo in the end credits). Interestingly, sources reveal that Gunn watched the film at the same time as DeLuca and Abdi, perhaps out of courtesy.
Phillips himself has confirmed that Gunn and Safran have nothing to do with the film, saying at a recent screening that their attitude was: “Well, Todd did his thing. Let Todd continue to do his Let’s do it.
Gunn and Safran have a vested interest in staying away clown and the bombs of the past few years, especially The Flash — a fitting DC title — as they try to reset the brand, which is Zaslav’s top priority.
Indeed, they were estranged pas de deux Around the same time they took over as co-heads of the studio. In a January 2023 press conference, they outlined their broad plans but noted Joker 2 will not fall under their purview and will exist as an Elseworld title – a designation for projects that do not fall outside of the shared universe of movies, TV shows and video games they are developing. they are working with batman Filmmaker Matt Reeves talks his sequel and TV spinoff Penguin and other projects in development outside of the mainline universe.
whether or not Joker 2 is a true DC title, the fifth bombshell for DC character movies since the hit movie batman Bowing in March 2022, recent missteps include black adam, Shazam! wrath of the gods, The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. (The more modest the budget blue beetle Didn’t do well last year, but wasn’t a complete bomb).
Gunn and Safran hope Gunn’s guidance will right the ship supermanwill arrive in July 2025.
Some have pointed out that the film was a very expensive gag and a repudiation of the first film’s audience. Ironically, the film ends with a smile on a man’s face (out of focus and slightly off camera). According to sources, the original script for the first film ended with Phoenix’s Joker carving his face in front of a crowd of supporters. but dark knight Filmmaker Christopher Nolan abandoned the idea, believing that only his Joker (Heath Ledger) should have his face sculpted. But Nolan is no longer in the studio, so the idea wasn’t resisted this time.
Both Phillips and Phoenix were unsure about making a sequel and briefly considered a Broadway show, but ultimately decided to make the film and cast Gaga in a role inspired by comic book character Harley Quinn. Sources revealed that the idea for the sequel came to Phoenix in a dream, and he and Phillips brought the idea to Emmerich.
Finally someone said Clown: Pas de deux is a very expensive art film. But when asked who the target audience was, one outside source summed it up this way: “For Joaquin.”
Borys Kit contributed to this report.
