As a die-hard fan of both DC and Star Wars, I must say that the saga of these two iconic franchises has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams have left indelible marks on their respective universes, but not always in ways that fans have embraced wholeheartedly.
Occasionally, a Hollywood drama may cause a movie that could have been enjoyable to lose its appeal. Much like how a new actor can spoil a film, so can a change in the director alter the appearance, mood, and atmosphere of a production significantly. A director should ideally possess a clear and comprehensive vision for the project they’re working on, and when this isn’t present, the entire movie can suffer. In essence, the director serves as the captain of the filmmaking vessel, and everyone looks to them for direction, oversight, and overall spirit. Although there are certainly poor directors, even good ones can make mistakes when inheriting a project from another professional.
It’s common for disagreements over creative direction or personality conflicts to derail film productions when those in charge have differing views. Often, it’s a struggle between the director and the studio backing the project, but even replacing directors can lead to problems if not handled carefully. There are numerous instances where movies were significantly altered (and not for the better) due to director changes during production. Some of these films turned out to be better than others, but collectively, they serve as a reminder about the value of a unified creative vision. Let’s dive in! Action!
Richard Donner to Richard Lester on Superman II
Following the remarkable achievement of Richard Donner’s “Superman: The Movie,” the team diligently worked on bringing the sequel to fruition, as it was intended to be a two-part project from the start. Warner Bros. and producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind aimed to create an epic, two-part superhero saga with “Superman” that would set new standards for the genre. However, despite the success of the initial film in 1978, the Salkinds dismissed Donner during the production of “Superman II,” labeling him as overspending and running late. Donner had already accomplished a significant portion of the sequel before his departure.
Instead of Donner, the Salkinds engaged Richard Lester, known for “The Three Musketeers.” Upon taking over, Lester significantly altered Donner’s work, and the script was rewritten. This decision made Christopher Reeve a bit uncomfortable. Despite his reservations, Reeve proceeded with the filming, resulting in Lester’s lighter, more debatable sincere interpretation of “Superman II.” The movie hit screens in 1980, becoming a major box-office hit, but it fell short of recapturing the essence of the original. Not surprisingly, the sequel’s financial triumph paved the way for “Superman III,” a film that was a disorganized mix by comparison.
Unlike many films in this collection, “Superman II” concludes on a positive note. In 2006, Warner Bros. unveiled “Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut,” generally considered a significant improvement over both versions. Not only does this version reflect the original director’s intentions more accurately, but it provides viewers with a genuine account of one of Steel Man’s most remarkable journeys.
Richard Stanley to John Frankenheimer on The Island of Dr. Moreau
If you’ve chatted about the 1996 movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau” before, chances are you’re aware that its production was a disaster. Adapted from H.G. Wells’ book, original director Richard Stanley worked on it for nearly five years for New Line Cinema. Unfortunately, he was dismissed after just three days on set. In his interview with Entertainment Weekly later, Stanley shared that the studio prioritized Val Kilmer, saying “Val [Kilmer] was the investment,” and if it came down to a choice between him and me… As we now know, things didn’t go as planned.
Reportedly, Kilmer created a storm on set due to frequent arguments with Stanley and his unwillingness to memorize lines. New Line Cinema grew tired of this behavior and brought in John Frankenheimer to replace him as director. However, this change didn’t seem to resolve the production’s on-set issues. As Ron Hutchinson, the film’s screenwriter, told The Guardian in 2017, both Kilmer and Marlon Brando were difficult personalities. The intense directing style of Frankenheimer was met with resistance from the actors, who often clashed with him throughout production. Regrettably, these issues led to a film that was inconsistent and overall poorly received by critics and viewers alike.
The movie “Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau” showed that Stanley returned to the set surprisingly, not as the director, but as an extra in disguise. With assistance from some of his previous team members, he transformed into one of the film’s dogmen characters and stayed on location for a number of days. Eventually, Stanley reconciled with Kilmer, but unfortunately, it was already too late to prevent this movie’s calamitous outcome.
Paul Schrader to Renny Harlin on Exorcist: The Beginning
Before “Exorcist: The Beginning” was directed by Paul Schrader instead of John Frankenheimer due to his health issues, he focused on the psychological turmoil of Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård) post World War II in this prequel to “The Exorcist”. Schrader presented two versions of the film to studio executives, but neither met their expectations. Ultimately, it was decided that reshoots were necessary to create the desired movie.
In a conversation with Bloody News through Captain Howdy, Schrader stated that they aimed to reshoot parts of the film to make it more frightening. However, the studio replaced Schrader with Renny Harlin, who had previously directed the fourth “Nightmare on Elm Street” movie. Subsequently, the script was rewritten, transforming it into a new film, and only Alexander Skarsgård and Julian Wadham remained from Schrader’s initial attempt. According to Skarsgård, the first version was more of a psychological thriller focusing on a man in crisis, but for the Renny Harlin movie, he altered his performance.
Eventually, the production cost for “Exorcist: The Beginning” amounted to approximately $80 million. Unfortunately, its unsuccessful release and disappointing box office earnings indicated a mistake on the studio’s part. Co-director William Friedkin and “The Exorcist” author/screenwriter William Peter Blatty both disapproved of the outcome. Interestingly, the flop of “The Beginning” opened up an opportunity for Friedkin to revisit the prequel, which was distributed by Warner Bros. under the title “Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist,” in a more restricted manner. Remarkably, Blatty himself described it as a “refined and sophisticated work” (via Houston Chronicle).
Petty Jenkins to Alan Taylor on Thor: The Dark World
Did you realize that “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins was initially set to direct a Marvel Cinematic Universe film? She had been hired for “Thor: The Dark World,” but before production started, she chose to step away, citing the familiar reason of creative disagreements. Later, she shared with BuzzFeed her concept for the movie: “I proposed making ‘Romeo and Juliet,'” she said. “I wanted Jane to be stranded on Earth, while Thor was confined elsewhere. I envisioned a scenario where Thor was prohibited from rescuing Jane because Earth held no significance.
It was reported that Natalie Portman was very upset when she discovered that Jenkins had been dismissed, as she had actually advocated for him to be a contender. Shortly afterwards, the studio appointed Alan Taylor, who had worked on “Game of Thrones,” as their new director. Unfortunately, the outcome was rather lackluster. Despite “The Dark World” earning decent box-office numbers, it’s often regarded as the weakest “Thor” film and one of the less impressive movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall.
Since then, Jenkins has openly discussed her exit from the movie project. In 2020, she shared with Vanity Fair that she felt the script they were planning wasn’t promising enough for a quality film. She expressed concern that it might seem as if she was to blame for its failure. However, things turned out well for Jenkins in the long run, as she eventually directed two “Wonder Woman” films for DC. Contrastingly, Taylor continued with “Terminator Genisys,” which proved to be even more off-track than his “Thor” sequel.
Kevin Reynolds to Kevin Costner on Waterworld
In essence, while Kevin Costner didn’t receive an official director credit for “Waterworld,” he effectively took charge of the film after its original director, Kevin Reynolds, left. Their collaboration extended back to “Fandango” and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” but a disagreement between them arose during their work on this post-apocalyptic production. Initially released in the mid-1990s, “Waterworld” was often referred to as Costner’s film due to its excessive budget and mediocre reviews. However, today it is more recognized as a stunt show at Universal Studios.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Reynolds stated that Costner was constantly meddling in his professional business, seemingly unable to relinquish any control of the project. Reynolds ultimately walked away, leaving “Waterworld” behind. “Now Kevin gets to work with his favorite actor and director,” Reynolds said. Ironically, Costner himself had initially campaigned on Reynolds’ behalf for him to helm the picture. “In the future, Costner should only appear in pictures he directs himself,” the director later said (via Esquire).
In spite of Costner’s good intentions, “Waterworld” flopped spectacularly at the box office. The conflict (coupled with a chaotic production that included disastrous natural events) may have been key factors leading to its failure, leaving us pondering what this ambitious endeavor might have become if Reynolds had maintained creative control. It’s intriguing to note that Reynolds is the sole director credited for “Waterworld,” even though it was essentially Costner’s movie.
Guillermo del Toro to Peter Jackson on The Hobbit
It’s widely acknowledged that Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is exceptional, but fans have shown a wide range of opinions regarding Jackson’s “The Hobbit” prequels, and rightfully so. Initially, “The Hobbit” was intended to be a two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s story, with Guillermo del Toro as the director. Among del Toro’s unfulfilled projects, “The Hobbit” stands out as the most regrettable. Del Toro and his team collaborated with Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens on the script, with the aim of balancing Jackson’s vision for Middle-earth with del Toro’s unique approach.
Regrettably, it seemed that Guillermo del Toro and Middle-earth were not destined for collaboration. Due to several production hold-ups, Del Toro ultimately parted ways with “The Hobbit.” Consequently, Peter Jackson stepped in to manage the project, increasing it from two films to a trilogy. This expansive adaptation of Tolkien’s novel led to some debatable creative decisions on Jackson’s behalf, culminating in the third film — “The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies” — essentially transforming into a protracted battle sequence lasting approximately 2.5 hours.
Based on accounts from those involved in the movie-making process, a tight production timeline posed problems swiftly. Jackson himself acknowledged that he began shooting the film without much preparation at all (as reported by the Independent). Despite Del Toro being credited as a screenwriter for all three films, his decision not to direct left him with lingering regrets. “I harbor deep sadness,” Del Toro expressed in 2010 (via The Hollywood Reporter). “A part of me has been scarred forever.
Tim Burton to Joel Schumacher on Batman Forever
In 1989, Tim Burton’s version of Batman left moviegoers amazed with its brooding, gothic interpretation of the popular DC character. However, when his follow-up film, “Batman Returns,” was released, there were mixed reactions, particularly from the studio. In the end, Warner Bros. decided to part ways with Burton. The director himself admitted in the documentary “Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight” that he had considered directing another film, but it was clear that the executives were not fond of his ideas. A production source told Entertainment Weekly at the time that Warner Bros. was uncomfortable with Burton’s dark and unconventional style.
Ultimately, they chose Joel Schumacher, director of “The Lost Boys,” who had a radically distinct vision for Batman. Swapping out Michael Keaton, Schumacher produced “Batman Forever,” a movie that abandoned Christopher Nolan’s brooding atmosphere and introduced a vibrant, rave-like Gotham City. Despite Warner Bros.’ attempt to make the film more suitable for families, it reverted to the campiness reminiscent of the 1960s TV series – a style that Tim Burton had worked diligently to separate Batman from.
Originally, what might have been a logical follow-up from “Batman Returns” instead transformed into a lengthy commercial for Batman and Robin action figures. Even animated movies aimed at children, like the 1993 film “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm,” possessed more depth compared to “Forever.” Schumacher’s sequel, commonly criticized as “Batman & Robin,” suffered significantly in comparison. The tale behind Tim Burton’s proposed third Batman movie is intriguing, but unfortunately, it never came to fruition for us to witness.
Lasse Hallström to Joe Johnston on The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
As a gamer, I haven’t had the chance to delve into “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” yet, but it seems even Disney hasn’t given it much attention either. Fingers crossed, that might not be such a bad thing! You know, like how Tim Burton reimagined Alice in Wonderland, I was hoping for a similar spin on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic Nutcracker tale. Lasse Hallström directed the film over four months in the UK, but less than a year later, Disney announced that the movie needed reshoots. Joe Johnston, known for “Captain America: The First Avenger,” was tapped to take over as director instead of Hallström.
While I’m gone, the movie is being skillfully handled in London, as Hallström shared with The Hollywood Reporter. He plans to return to post-production after the holidays. It took Johnston about a month to reshoot, but it’s uncertain what adjustments were made during that time. Apparently, the new director modified enough of Hallström’s work that they decided to co-direct the final film. However, “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” shows us that sometimes, two minds might not be superior to one.
The financial outcome clearly tells the story, as “The Nutcracker” drained approximately $65 million from Disney’s coffers. It remains uncertain whether Hallström or Johnston bears more responsibility, but the end product was sluggish, unoriginal, and failed to spark audience interest. Regrettably, “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” turned out to be a film easily forgotten, which is unfortunate considering its rich, distinctive source material.
Zack Snyder to Joss Whedon on Justice League
It’s widely recognized that the replacement of directors, in this case Joss Whedon for Zack Snyder on DC’s “Justice League,” can significantly derail a movie’s trajectory. When Snyder had to step away due to personal reasons, Whedon felt that Snyder’s work was incomplete, leading to extensive reshoots. The changes Whedon made, including replacing the score and rewriting parts of the script, caused “Justice League” to closely resemble 2012’s “Avengers.” Matters were further complicated when actors Ray Fisher and Gal Gadot alleged that Whedon displayed unprofessional conduct on set.
The movie titled “Justice League” came out in the year 2017, receiving a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Some viewers felt it was a good continuation of the DC Extended Universe after “Batman v Superman”. However, others were displeased due to Joss Whedon’s apparent attempt to make the film resemble Marvel productions, despite Zack Snyder retaining full directing credit and being credited as a co-writer. This led to significant fan dissatisfaction, which lasted for years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. eventually agreed to grant Snyder approximately $70 million to complete his four-hour director’s cut, which was released in 2021 under the title “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” on Max.
The contrast between the two movies is unmistakable. Snyder’s approach is daring and distinct, ensuring each character has a complete journey and adding depth to his universe. As he expressed to The Hollywood Reporter, “Going back to that heritage and allowing my unique perspective for this film, in this style, at this length, is unconventional and courageous.” In essence, the original “Justice League” was significantly impacted by Joss Whedon’s involvement. However, the “Snydercut” surpasses it in every aspect.
Colin Trevorrow to J.J. Abrams on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but yearn for the cinematic experience that Colin Trevorrow’s “Star Wars: Duel of the Fates” would have offered. In his vision for “Episode IX”, Finn (John Boyega) was destined to become a legendary figure within the First Order, Rey (Daisy Ridley) was set to grapple with both the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, and remarkably, there was no trace of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Unfortunately, the “Jurassic World” director’s departure from “Episode IX” was due to creative differences between him and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Despite not seeing this movie come to life on the big screen, I can still imagine the thrilling storylines it would have unfolded.
J.J. Abrams, who had earlier helmed “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” was once again enlisted for the ninth movie in the series. This decision seemed to be a response to the mixed reactions of fans towards “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” directed by Rian Johnson. Critics appreciated it, but many viewers found issues with it. To address these concerns, Abrams abandoned Trevorrow’s original plans and opted for a more conservative approach. Key characters like Rey, Finn, and Poe (played by Oscar Isaac) saw their roles diminished in the narrative, and certain deaths were portrayed as misleading or fake-outs.
2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” directed by Abrams, turned out to be a major flop. Since then, no new “Star Wars” movie has been released in cinemas; instead, the focus has shifted towards the streaming platform, where they’ve experienced greater success lately. Here’s a ranking of every “Star Wars” TV show by Looper if you’re interested.
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2024-10-20 14:31