Universal pulls "47 Ronin" from director as budget swells to $225 million

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Universal has pulled the editing of Japanese epic "47 Ronin" from its director Carl Rinsch as the budget of the project has ballooned to $225 million, individuals close to the project told TheWrap.

The troubled 3D megaproduction has been taken over by Universal co-chairwoman Donna Langley, who is now overseeing the editing of the movie instead of the director, one of those individuals said.

The movie wrapped up a series of reshoots in London about one week ago, the purpose of which was to recapture key close-ups of lead actor Keanu Reeves and put him back in the center of the action in the film's most climactic scene.

The individual described the production process as a "nightmare."

Universal declined to comment for this story. A CAA representative for Rinsch did not have any immediate comment.

"47 Ronin" fictionalizes one of Japan's most legendary samurai tales, the story of a group of 18th century warriors who aim to avenge their master's death. Reeves, in his first starring role in a tentpole project since "The Matrix" trilogy, plays the lead in a mainly-Japanese cast.

The cost of Rinsch's tale has now climbed past $225 million, an individual with knowledge of the production told TheWrap. Factoring in both the budget and the millions the studio will spend to market the film, Universal would need more than half a billion dollars at the global box office just to break even.

A Universal executive disputed that figure and said the budget had not veered from its original $175 million figure, despite the reshoots.

But there is no doubt that the production has been a mess.

An individual close to the movie, which is co-produced by Scott Stuber, Pamela Abdy and Eric McLeod, said that the director, a veteran of Heineken and BMW commercials on his first feature film, had buckled under the pressure of the ambitious shoot of "47 Ronin," and the studio had to step in to micromanage the latest round of reshoots from half a world away.

The studio was dissatisfied with the movie it saw coming together and seized control from Rinsch.

One individual with knowledge of the production said Rinsch, who during preproduction seemed creative and competent, struggled to control the filmmaking process. The studio then stepped in to oversee the project from Los Angeles, taking charge of the editorial development, including the cut of the film.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/universal-pulls-47-ronin-director-budget-swells-225-232033189.html

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