Summary
- Avi Arad’s track record with non-Marvel movies raises red flags for fans awaiting The Legend of Zelda adaptation.
- The producer’s involvement in Borderlands and Madame Web flops suggests potential troubles ahead for iconic franchises.
- Despite Arad’s mixed Marvel legacy and past flops, hope for The Legend of Zelda adaptation lies in the director’s talent and Nintendo’s involvement.
As a lifelong fan of both The Legend of Zelda and Naruto, I must admit that the recent news has left me with a mix of excitement and apprehension. On one hand, the hiring of Wes Beal, fresh off the success of War for the Planet of the Apes, gives us reason to hope for a thoughtful and visually stunning adaptation. His deliberate pacing, beautiful scenery, and classic hero’s journey certainly bode well for both properties.
It turns out that two movies slated for release in 2024, Madame Web and Borderlands, share some striking similarities. Both are adaptations from existing sources, and it’s been rumored that they underwent significant reshoots off-camera, leading to substantial delays. Upon release, these films received scathing reviews from critics as well as disapproval from audiences who watched them flop at the box office during their opening weekends. Moreover, they share a common key player: producer Avi Arad.
In the 1990s, Avi Arad held the position of CEO at Toy Biz, later moving on to serve as Marvel Entertainment’s chief creative officer. It was under his leadership that Marvel Comics ventured into filmmaking. Although he played a significant role in successful films such as X-Men, Spider-Man, and the establishment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he also faced numerous challenges behind the scenes.
Although he was instrumental in establishing the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he left before it achieved its current success, with Kevin Feige taking over instead. Arad continues to be involved in Spider-Man productions at Sony Pictures, such as Venom, Morbius, and the Spider-Verse movies. However, he is currently seeking new opportunities to create another successful franchise.
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a tinge of unease with Borderlands and Madame Web taking center stage right now, given that Avi Arad’s next project is none other than the beloved video game series The Legend of Zelda. With Arad’s past projects in mind, there’s a growing sense of anticipation mixed with apprehension among us fans.
Arad’s Non-Marvel Movies Have Been Misses
Back in May 2006, Avi Arad stepped down from his role at Marvel to establish his own production company, Arad Productions. Although he played a significant part in establishing Marvel Studios, Arad found himself at odds with their new strategies. He felt that producing their own films was too daring, preferring instead to lease the rights to other studios. His reasoning was that if movies like Daredevil or The Hulk flopped at the box office, it would be those studios bearing the brunt of the losses. However, Marvel could still reap profits from merchandise sales.
He left shortly following the release of X-Men: The Last Stand, a time when Marvel Studios was gearing up for pre-production on both Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Arad cashed out his shares for $60 million. Despite the sale, he retained a producer credit on Marvel’s Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, as well as a producer credit and creative input in the Spider-Man movies under Sony’s production.
Simultaneously, Arad Productions searched for their next major franchise, noticing the potential in Marvel Comics and seizing the opportunity when others did not. Once more, they struck gold.
A String of Questionable Decisions and High-Profile Flops
Despite the fact that it’s had more flops than hits, the journey has largely been disappointing. The first movie was the 2007 release of Bratz, a cinematic adaption of the well-known toyline. Bratz opened on August 3, 2007, and managed to rank at number 10 at the box office during its opening weekend, earning $4.2 million. However, it’s currently receiving a dismal 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, sandwiched between Borderlands‘ 9% and Madame Web‘s 11%. Bratz‘s performance at the box office was a failure, and it looked even worse when contrasted with summer 2007’s other toy-based film adaptation, Transformers.
2017 marked the release of Arad Productions’ movie “Ghost in the Shell”. Initially, the concept seemed promising since it was based on a highly-regarded manga that had previously been turned into a popular 1995 anime film. However, the film stirred up significant controversy when Scarlett Johansson was chosen to play the lead role, leading to heated discussions about cultural appropriation.
It drew criticism of whitewashing, which certainly was made worse by the film revealing that she originally was a teenage Japanese girl and activist named Motoko Kusanagi, who was placed in the body of a white woman, Johannson’s Mira Killian.
The debate persisted after the release of “Ghost in the Shell,” and unfortunately, it turned out to be another financial and critical disappointment at the box office. It debuted at third place with an earnings of $18 million and ultimately grossed $40 million domestically, while its production budget of $110 million was far beyond what even a global total of $169 million could cover.
Among Arad’s projects not connected to Marvel, it’s only Uncharted (2022) that can be considered a success. This movie earned $148.6 million domestically and $470.1 million globally, and is often cited as one of the initial blockbusters following the pandemic. Moreover, it’s viewed as another triumph for the video game adaptation genre.
1) The movie adaptation of Uncharted received a variety of opinions, particularly from fans of the games who were quite harsh towards casting Tom Holland as Nathan Drake, creating a substantial shift from the video game series. This suggests potential challenges ahead for The Legend of Zelda in adapting the styles of both Uncharted and Borderlands.
As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but express my disappointment with the highly anticipated film, Borderlands. It seems destined to be among the most critically panned films of this year, potentially one of the biggest box office flops, and quite possibly a contender for one of the worst movies produced over the past decade.
Arad’s Trouble at Marvel
A key role in Marvel Comics’ success in capturing Hollywood’s attention and ultimately bringing iconic characters like X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Punisher, and Ghost Rider to the silver screen belongs to Arad. Unlike DC Comics, which were primarily produced by Warner Bros., Arad’s strategic placement at multiple studios paved the way for more Marvel movies to be produced, leading to the explosion of superhero films in the 2000s. This achievement is a testament that will remain indelible in film history.
1. Arad foresaw the box-office success of Marvel superheroes when others didn’t, and the studio owes its existence to his early contributions. However, Arad was not without complications. Given his significant investment in Marvel toys, he would offer suggestions for Marvel movies that would also boost toy sales.
A memorable instance of this occurred when he persuaded Sam Raimi to incorporate Venom into Spider-Man 3, even though the director had no enthusiasm for the character. Reluctantly, Raimi included the marketable black-suited Spider-Man and Venom in the film. While Spider-Man 3 was a financial success, it fell short of fan expectations, being viewed as a significant decline compared to the first two films.
Arad’s Legacy With Spider-Man Is Complicated
The legacy of Arad’s work at Marvel has faced scrutiny due to the recent rift between Marvel Studios and Sony over the ‘Spider-Man’ movies. The ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ films didn’t perform as well as expected, leading Sony to negotiate with Marvel Studios in order to reintegrate Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), aiming to enhance the character’s long-term earning power at the box office.
As a movie enthusiast, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the box office sensations “Venom” and its sequel “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” However, I can’t help but notice a recurring criticism that these films seem reminiscent of early 2000s superhero movies, a genre Avi Arad played a significant role in shaping. The problem is that they appear to be rooted in the past, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has revolutionized and advanced the genre. To me, “Venom” feels more akin to “Daredevil” or “Ghost Rider” than the innovative and captivating titles like “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Doctor Strange.”
Currently, movies such as Morbius and Madame Web are facing disappointments at both the box office and from critics. These films have unfortunately become targets of many popular jokes online, such as “it’s morbid time” and “he was in the Amazon with my mom when she was studying spiders right before she passed away.”
The situation for Kraven the Hunter seems less promising, as his latest trailer has left fans feeling uneasy. Previous Marvel films produced by Arad, especially after the separation from Marvel Studios, have exposed his shortcomings as a producer, revealing his tendencies that are concerning and potentially predicting similar issues with The Legend of Zelda.
Is There Hope for The Legend of Zelda?
Legend of Zelda, often hailed as one of the greatest and most emblematic video game series ever made, is renowned for its stunning graphics, intricate lore, and enchanting epic scale. For years, enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated a cinematic adaptation of this beloved franchise. However, the news that Avi Arad might be instrumental in bringing it to life stirs more apprehension than hope.
Previously, this individual wasn’t associated with the production of “Spider-Man 2” and “X2: X-Men United,” but they are now known for producing films such as “Madame Web,” “Borderlands,” and “Bratz.” There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding future projects. Arad’s name is connected to popular films like the “Spider-Verse” animated series and early Marvel successes such as “X-Men” and “Spider-Man,” but it appears that the less he was involved, the more successful those projects became.
A Talented Director and Nintendo’s Attention to Detail Could Provide a Counter-Balance
Fortunately, Arad’s films are often as impressive as their director, and with “The Legend of Zelda”, Arad and Sony Pictures have enlisted Wes Beal. Fresh from the success of “War for the Planet of the Apes”, a film praised by critics and financially successful, Beal seems like an ideal choice to direct “The Legend of Zelda”. The deliberate pace, stunning visuals, and traditional hero’s journey displayed in that movie have convinced fans that Beal is perfectly suited to lead “The Legend of Zelda”.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I eagerly anticipate that with the addition of the Maze Runner trilogy to his portfolio, Beal will wield enough creative influence to bring his Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki-inspired film vision to life. This might just help keep Arad’s production troubles at bay.
Beyond just the productions themselves, it’s crucial to take Nintendo into account as well. After the setback of 1993’s Super Mario Bros, Nintendo grew very cautious with its collection of characters. Following the release of 2019’s Pokemon: Detective Pikachu and the upcoming 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo has shown a willingness to grant licenses for their characters to other studios for film adaptations, even going so far as to participate in the development process.
It’s plausible that Nintendo teamed up with Arad because of his background in early Marvel films. However, it’s equally possible that Nintendo has significant creative control over the project to prevent potential issues arising from Arad’s tendencies.
Naruto Fans Should Also Be Worried
It isn’t only The Legend of Zelda fans who should be worried about Arad being involved with their favorite property. Anyone who is a fan of the popular manga and anime series Naruto should be concerned, as Arad is also the producer bringing that beloved property to live-action. Just as fans of The Legend of Zelda can look at how Arad adapted Borderlands and Uncharted, along with how Ghost in the Shell was handled, there is plenty of cause for concern about Naruto.
Similar to how the success of The Legend of Zelda depends on its director, Destin Daniel Cretton takes charge for Lionsgate’s upcoming project. Known for his character-driven films like Short Term 12, Just Mercy, and the hit movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Cretton promises an engaging experience.
When it comes to Wes Beal’s work on The Legend of Zelda and Cretton’s on Naruto, these movies seem more promising than Borderlands and Madame Web. However, considering how poorly both Borderlands and Madame Web were received by critics and viewers, fans have good reason to be cautious about The Legend of Zelda and Naruto until the reviews are out.
Read More
- BODEN PREDICTION. BODEN cryptocurrency
- GHST PREDICTION. GHST cryptocurrency
- BETA PREDICTION. BETA cryptocurrency
- STRD PREDICTION. STRD cryptocurrency
- Mango Markets Exploiter Found Guilty Of Fraud And Manipulation
- GBP EUR PREDICTION
- MATIC PREDICTION. MATIC cryptocurrency
- LOOKS PREDICTION. LOOKS cryptocurrency
- BRN/USD
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-08-21 03:02