The film began shooting in Hawaii on June 27 and is not expected to wrap until mid-February at the earliest. Universal and Costner have put their reputations on the line, hoping the film will be ready for release in late July, although skeptics abound.
But remember, the budget on that movie was $57 million.” “Maybe if it does the business of ‘Jurassic Park’ (which brought in $357 million in the United States and Canada). “Even if this is a blockbuster, it would be very tough for Universal to make its money back,” says one production executive. Universal officials declined to comment on the film’s current costs.
It was green-lighted by the studio at $100 million, as MCA president Sidney Sheinberg confirmed earlier to The Times. Already, “Waterworld” is the most expensive movie in history. Some close to the production say the total budget will easily top $200 million once the cost of marketing the picture and making prints is counted. Under very adverse circumstances, they are getting this movie done.”Īfter months of principal photography off the Big Island of Hawaii, shooting shifted back to Los Angeles, where the project remains mired in delays and cost overruns. “The filmmakers are doing a terrific job. “Yes, the press is distracting,” he said. Tom Pollock, chairman of Universal’s motion picture group, said he hopes the film is judged on its own merits. Rampant press reports of morale problems, crew firings, reckless spending and the personal troubles surrounding its star have some at the studio fretting that the movie is already tainted goods in the public’s mind. While closed sets are not unusual for big movies, Universal officials are concerned that continued speculation in the press about the troubled production and its soaring costs-already at $160 million according to sources close to the film-only serve to hurt the picture before it is finished and in theaters.
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