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Western To Test Schwarzenegger's Post-Scandal Popularity
Deadline Hollywood ^ | July 11, 2011 | NIKKI FINKE

Posted on 07/11/2011 4:24:29 PM PDT by Beaten Valve

The Lionsgate project has been off, then on, then off, and now on again. The studio in May had been on the verge of announcing that Arnold Schwarzenegger was starring in its long-in-development Western titled Last Stand, set up as the English-language debut of director Kim-ji-Woon. Then the actor pulled out just before his personal scandal went public and deep-sixed his marriage to Maria Shriver.

But now the actor is back in the project and aiming to test his popularity post-divorce. I've learned that Arnold's deal with Lionsgate is not nearly as rich as the one CAA made for him in QED International's Cry Macho, which was a $12.5M salary plus 25% first dollar gross back end. (See my previous, Schwarzenegger Closes Next Film: Worldwide Rights Will Sell At Cannes Fest)

Poor Bill Block brought that project to Cannes in the middle of Schwarzenegger's scandal and now it looks to be dead or at best delayed until February 2012.

So now Last Stand would start in September of this year. "It's a property which a zillion directors fell in love with: the good, the bad, the weird," a Lionsgate exec told me when I first heard Schwarzenegger was in. "It's an old-fashioned Western specifically designed for a 63-year-old broken-down guy with a moral decision whether Arnold decides to stand up for his town. We always needed an iconic figure for it."

When I asked Lionsgate if Arnold is still a star despite the scandal, an exec assured me, "I can tell you from The Expendables it was electrifying when Arnold came on. He is still a big piece of news."

Liam Neeson had been attached at one point, but he kept pushing it back as his schedule grew more crowded. Ultimately, Lionsgate moved on. Arnold then fell in love with the movie several months ago, and Lionsgate spent the ensuing time snagging a director. The studio had already pre-sold the $30M-budgeted movie overseas with Liam so will tell its partners about the switch shortly.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnoldlegacy; beggingforstardom; goawayarnold; hollywood; loser; movies; schwarzenegger; schwrazeneggar; washedupactor; whocares
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Looks like he'll be back sooner than we thought.
1 posted on 07/11/2011 4:24:33 PM PDT by Beaten Valve
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To: Beaten Valve

A western star with an Austrian accent?


2 posted on 07/11/2011 4:25:44 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Beaten Valve

I’ve read this. It’s a contemporary action Western, and a pretty run of the mill B movie.


3 posted on 07/11/2011 4:26:16 PM PDT by Argus
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To: All

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4 posted on 07/11/2011 4:27:12 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Beaten Valve

Lionsgate makes some interesting movies, but most of their stuff is direct to video. If Schwarzenegger is going with them, then the A-List companies (e.g., Paramount, Sony, etc) won’t touch him.

Maybe Arnold and Mel (Gibson) can console each other.


5 posted on 07/11/2011 4:27:29 PM PDT by rbg81
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To: Brilliant

I’ll be back partner, but who will care?


6 posted on 07/11/2011 4:28:18 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Brilliant

“A western star with an Austrian accent?”

Maybe he’ll play the Jewish shopkeeper.


7 posted on 07/11/2011 4:29:22 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: Brilliant

So if Italian Westerns are Spaghetti Westerns, what are Austrian Westerns?

Schnitzel Westerns?

Gummi Westerns?


8 posted on 07/11/2011 4:29:29 PM PDT by mountainbunny
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To: Beaten Valve

I’ll feel sorry for that Korean director if this is a total flop.


9 posted on 07/11/2011 4:29:59 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Brilliant

It’s a Westrian.


10 posted on 07/11/2011 4:33:05 PM PDT by Jonty30
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To: Beaten Valve

Walker, Texas Ranger

11 posted on 07/11/2011 4:33:43 PM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: Argus

A $30M B-movie??


12 posted on 07/11/2011 4:33:49 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Beaten Valve

Read my lips...no I will not spend money to watch this person and haven’t for a very long time.


13 posted on 07/11/2011 4:34:29 PM PDT by Pilated
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To: Brilliant
A western star with an Austrian accent?

I guess that you've never seen "The Villain"? Arnold, Kirk Douglas and a really hot Ann Margret.

14 posted on 07/11/2011 4:35:19 PM PDT by Malone LaVeigh
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To: Brilliant

A large number of Europeans settled in the old west, and I have read books during the late 1800’s that it was almost a miracle that anyone can understand one another especially on what the other person was saying, as it was a mix of thick Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Czech, Russian accents on the western frontier.

Then again, I just watched Predator in Blu-Ray and still chuckled when Ahnold said “head to the Chopppaaaa..’


15 posted on 07/11/2011 4:35:46 PM PDT by max americana (FUBO NATION 2012 FAK BARAK)
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To: Malone LaVeigh

I didn’t have much problem with Yul Brynner’s Serbian Gypsy accent in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN either.

What I never got, though, was why a robot from the future would have an Austrian accent.


16 posted on 07/11/2011 4:38:44 PM PDT by Argus
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To: Beaten Valve

“...and now you know why Lili von Schtupp was tired.”


17 posted on 07/11/2011 4:44:53 PM PDT by RichInOC (No! BAD Rich! (What'd I say?))
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To: Beaten Valve

Please. Scandals mean little if anything in terms of box office draw. The real test is that Arnold is old and worn out. There may be some novelty factor in seeing him on the screen but no one goes to see a Schwarzenegger movie like they used to in the late 80s / early 90s.


18 posted on 07/11/2011 4:47:39 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: Argus

How about the very German Horst Bucholtz playing a Mexican peon? ;-)


19 posted on 07/11/2011 4:49:42 PM PDT by Malone LaVeigh
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To: Beaten Valve

Not a single FReeper (yet) recalls Ah-nolds first foray into westerns?

Hint: Kirk Douglas played the bad guy.


20 posted on 07/11/2011 4:59:49 PM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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