Solomon Kane Film Faces Industry Downturn
“Solomon Kane,” may yet face additional hurdles in reaching U.S. theater screens in the immediate future. Variety is suggesting a very bleak distribution environment for recently completed independent films. The article reports that with the first half of the year completed, it is hard not to notice the nearly complete lack of specialty film pickups by studios.
Even Fox Searchlight, one of the few remaining studio specialty divisions, has been somewhat quiet. Since picking up ”The Wrestler” at Toronto last fall, the label has made just one fest purchase: ”Adam,” a small indie drama that played in Sundance’s competition in January.
The consolidation of the indie and specialty-division landscape is alarming to filmmakers and sales agents, but Searchlight isn’t happy about it, either.
“We don’t want to be the last man standing with the entire burden of specialized cinema resting on our shoulders,” Searchlight’s acquisitions head Tony Safford confided as he headed out for his late-June vacation. “Without New Line and (Paramount) Vantage really being in the game, and without Warner Independent, suddenly there are 20-30 films that aren’t being distributed. Maybe half shouldn’t have been distributed, but half should have.”
John Sloss, who is repping domestic sales on two Cannes fest entries still looking for homes – Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” and Alejandro Amenabar’s “Agora” — said the specialty biz may be facing a sea change.
“I’ve been an optimist and a defender of the core elements of indie distribution, but it’s hard to explain the lack of presence of specialized distributors in the market,” Sloss said.
Sobering words indeed for those awaiting the release of the completed “Kane” film. The dismal situation reported by Variety certainly clouds the hopes for an autumn distribution date in the U.S. that would coincide with the previously announced dates in Europe. For now, Solomon Kane fans can only wait with crossed fingers as events play out in the coming weeks.
This is just exactly what I was worried about.
Makes me feel so darn helpless. We can hope that The Philanthropist does really well, as it should, and that the interest in Mr. Purefoy is such that a big screen film looks mighty tasty to the studios reps. It’s a genre of film that’s been more popular over the past few years than ever before, so I’d think they’d look at it as a good choice, but who knows. My fingers and toes are crossed that soon we’ll hear very good news on this!
About the Philantropist, i watched the first two episodes, and i am mightily impressed by his acting skills an charisma! The series has a promising concept, but he really sells the character!
He certainly does. I’m not sure just any actor could work as Teddy. The way James is… his very unique way, is just ideal for a character like that. If done differently, without that particular charm James exudes, Teddy would come over as a real cad and not be as likable despite his naughtiness.
And, I think the show is only going to get better and better as it goes along. That certain something James has is another reason I’m so very excited to see his portrayal of Kane. He is so good at transforming to various characters that he’ll approach Kane from a very different angle from Teddy, of course, but I’m just dying to see that performance!
I’ve worked with James three times in the past 10 years or so…most recently Philanthropist and Solomon Kane…He is a consummate pro, dedicated, engaging and friendly. James treats the crews that work around him with the utmost respect and courtesy. Success couldn’t come to a more deserving guy in this industry.