Posted on 04/24/2019 3:51:51 PM PDT by EdnaMode
We are just over a month into the new Disney/Fox status quo. The Mouse House has become the industry’s first mega-studio by absorbing one of its biggest competitors in a deal that has had massive repercussions, already, with thousands losing jobs and films suddenly finding themselves without a studio. But there is a lot more at play in the merger than what many were probably considering, such as Disney’s morals.
Everyone knows that Disney doesn’t make films the same way that everyone else does. The films under the Disney banner have a certain limit on how far they can go. Basically, you’re not going to see some hard-R films coming from the studio. About as far as it has previously gone is with Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, who both push the limit of PG-13.
But with a new slate of Fox projects, Disney has to decide just how far the studio is willing to go. And while the mega-studio is going to use Fox as it’s own production studio and label, there are still some standards that will have to be maintained. And according to THR, one of the films that is finding that out is Steven Speilberg’s “West Side Story.”
The report says that the folks at Disney, particularly executive Alan Horn, is concerned about releasing a film that includes young people smoking cigarettes, and is questioning if that’s appropriate for a Disney film, no matter if it’s based on a classic play and directed by Spielberg. There’s no resolution that has been mentioned yet.
In a previous interview with the outlet, Horn talked about this sort of issue, saying, “With Fox, we can make movies that right now I say no to … We always have to think about the smoking policy. The audience for a Disney movie may not know what they are going to see, but they know what they aren’t going to see. There are certain things we just can’t include because we’ll get letters.”
They could end up releasing “West Side Story” under the Fox banner, which is run by Fox film president Emma Watts and THR says will cater towards the PG-13 and R-rated films. Or, as it appears might be the plan, eliminate the smoking and whatever other questionable material might be in the film, and release it as part of Disney. We’ll just have to wait and see.
But needless to say, Disney isn’t willing to bend its moral code just to cater to Fox films. At least, not yet.
How about the stabbings? I suppose that’s essential, as long as they don’t smoke.
Switchblades are OK but smoking is out?
“When you’re a Fett, you’re really a Fett. You’re really a Fett all the way...”
As if Touchstone didn’t make R rated films in the 80s
Oh, so Disney inc. dictates one can’t smoke a cigarette, but they can smoke a pole? Ugh!!! just
Something I realized after about the second time I had seen it was that the G.I.s in Saving Private Ryan were NOT smoking.
There’s a lot of stuff in there could be considered raciss too.
They should just erase the whole movie.
I missed that.
A few thoughts...
Geez, does Disney have to remake everything? Didn’t the original win the Best Picture Oscar (when that actually meant something)? How do you improve on that?
Tobacco cigarette use among teens in the U.S. has been on decline for decades. They’re into pot and vaping. I seriously doubt that a Spielberg flick is going to persuade anyone to take up the habit.
Or smoke after the obligatory homo interlude?
Smartest thing Big Tobacco ever did, giving free cigarettes to all those GIs.
Chewing gum, the same thing (chewing keeps you alert when you are tired).
Just change the dialog so you think they’re smoking pot.
Warning!- Historical Smoking, Violence and sexual situations.
So we are in for a politically correct remake of West side story?
Probably gonna be 2 1/2 hours of Trump-bashing, anyhow.
“Gee, Officer Krupke,
Krup you!”
Gang members are always breaking out singing and dancing.
Update the movie to show a gang member being stabbed for smoking to show it is hazardous to smoke....
Good thing they didn’t have it in the latest Pearl Harbor movie that was riddled with so many inaccuracies such as nobody was smoking in that O’club scene. Nobody.
“Disney’s morals”??? Like supporting homosexual activities and so called marriage? Like supporting every hard core left idea? Not my idea of morals.
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