AI scares Tyler Perry out of $800M spend

And why 'Gladiator 2' is going to fail

Feb 26, 2024

Tyler Perry scraps $800M studio expansion after seeing what AI can do… In case you missed it, Open AI revealed its video generator two weeks back — and its ability to mimic real life is stunning and frankly, alarming. So much so that Hollywood is already adjusting. Tyler Perry was set to spend $800 million to expand his Atlanta studio, but after seeing Sora’s capabilities, he’s paused that construction plan indefinitely. Perry was going to build 12 new sound stages in Atlanta as part of the expansion but now he says thanks to Sora, filmmakers might never need to build sets or be on location ever again, “If I wanted to be in the snow in Colorado, it’s text. If I wanted to write a scene on the moon, it’s text, and this AI can generate it like nothing.” Perry seems appreciative of what AI can do. He used it recently to help age up one of his characters digitally, saying it saved him hours in the makeup chair. But he also shared his worries about how the tech might disrupt Hollywood, “I am very, very concerned that in the near future, a lot of jobs are going to be lost.” Like the jobs that are lost by you not expanding your studio? 🤖
Gladiator 2 is all but guaranteed to fail at the box office… And Paramount will have no one to blame but themselves. In case you’re not aware, Ridley Scott has been hard at work over the past two year making a sequel to his 24-year-old Best Picture winner Gladiator. It’s going to star Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Connie Nielsen. It’s probably going to be a big draw this November, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, it’s going to need to be a VERY big draw. Because apparently its production budget has grown to $310 million, which would make it the 10th most expensive movie ever made. Then you have to figure that Paramount will need to spend at least $100 million if not more on marketing the movie. So now we’re talking an investment of at least $400 million. And according to /Film, movie theaters take about 50% of box office revenue, meaning the movie will have to make about $800 million for Paramount to break even. Only 4 movies topped that number last year: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Mario, and Guardians 3. Do you think Gladiator 2 is going to be as popular as those movies? It being an R-rated sequel to a historical movie from a generation ago? With lead Paul Mescal? If the movie is an utter sensation, and gets the positive word of mouth we’re currently seeing with Dune 2 maybe it could grow to a billion? But I don’t know. I’m skeptical. 🩴
Oppenheimer wins SAG ensemble, Murphy and Gladstone heat up Oscar race… The SAG Awards gave us a lot of things. A surprise win for Pedro Pascal (including a drunken and emotional speech), as well as a nudge in the direction of Cillian Murphy and Lily Gladstone as the Oscars approach. Prior to this, both seemed to be in a dead heat with Paul Giammati and Emma Stone respectively, but now maybe things are leaning Murphy and Gladstone? A lot of actors vote for Oscars. Meanwhile, the Independent Spirit Awards also happened this weekend, where it was nice to see winners like Past Lives, How to Blow Up a Pipeline (for editing), Jeffrey Wright, and Dominic Sessa. Meanwhile meanwhile, Oppenheimer won the PGA for Best Film, so you’d be a fool at this point to think anything else will win Best Picture. 🏆
Daniel Destin Creton making Naruto live action film… I understand that Hollywood has to mine all the recognizable IP that it can, but it seems like almost every time they try to adapt an anime, the fans of the original don’t like it and doesn’t wind up having crossover appeal to non-fans. So why keep trying with this shit? 🤔
Sony nabs movie about Coke-Pepsi rivalry for $1 million… Brand movies remain the new IP. Hopefully it’s more Blackberry, less Beanie Bubble. 🥤
New Potter TV series eyes 2026, J.K. Rowling is involved… The discourse around this is going to be a nightmare. 🧙🏻‍♀️
Zendaya chips in on $100K donation to theater were she got her start… She’s a good egg. 🥚
Second Game of Thrones spinoff coming late 2025… Wake me up whenever that is. ⚔️