American Gangster

Brian in Mesa

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American Gangster Gets Another Shot
Source: Variety
March 14, 2005


Universal Pictures and Imagine are ready to give American Gangster another chance with Hotel Rwanda writer/director Terry George, reports Variety.

In October, weeks before production was set to begin, the studio pulled the plug because of fears that the period film would cost more than $100 million. Antoine Fuqua was to direct Denzel Washington and Benicio Del Toro, who both had pay-or-play deals.

Imagine's Brian Grazer and Universal vice chairman Scott Stuber will redevelop the film with George into a $50 million project. It is rumored that George's Hotel Rwanda star Don Cheadle may play the lead role of Frank Lucas, the mastermind of a scheme to smuggle heroin into the U.S. in the caskets of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

Del Toro had been set to play narcotics lawman Richie Roberts, who brought down the Harlem drug kingpin called Superfly and then drafted Lucas to help bring down the dirty cops and overseas conspirators who made it easy to import heroin into the U.S.
 

abomb

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The new trailer is bad ass.
 

PHXDragon

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Cant wait to see american gangster. Just watched the departed last night for the first time. Pretty damn cool if you ask me.
 

abomb

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Bad Denzel > Good Denzel.
 

Renz

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In October, weeks before production was set to begin, the studio pulled the plug because of fears that the period film would cost more than $100 million. Antoine Fuqua was to direct Denzel Washington and Benicio Del Toro, who both had pay-or-play deals.

What does that mean?
 

abomb

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What does that mean?

"Most Hollywood dealmakers would embrace a standard definition of "pay or play" as an obligation to pay money whether not services are used. For example performer has become "pay or play" in connection with a particular project, the studio or production company is required to utilize the artist's services, but is required to pay him or even if it elects to proceed with a different actor or not to produce the project at all. "

http://www.rmslaw.com/articles/art60.htm
 

Renz

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"Most Hollywood dealmakers would embrace a standard definition of "pay or play" as an obligation to pay money whether not services are used. For example performer has become "pay or play" in connection with a particular project, the studio or production company is required to utilize the artist's services, but is required to pay him or even if it elects to proceed with a different actor or not to produce the project at all. "

http://www.rmslaw.com/articles/art60.htm

Thanks.
 

RON_IN_OC

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"Most Hollywood dealmakers would embrace a standard definition of "pay or play" as an obligation to pay money whether not services are used. For example performer has become "pay or play" in connection with a particular project, the studio or production company is required to utilize the artist's services, but is required to pay him or even if it elects to proceed with a different actor or not to produce the project at all. "

http://www.rmslaw.com/articles/art60.htm

So, Del Toro got paid, even though he was replaced with Crowe?
 

Mulli

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I like Crowe, but would rather watch Del Toro. Better name, too. I guess I will have to see this to see how Russell fits the role.
 

dreamcastrocks

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I like Crowe, but would rather watch Del Toro. Better name, too. I guess I will have to see this to see how Russell fits the role.

eh. I would rather watch Crowe.
 

dreamcastrocks

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He did that lame romantic comedy and the boxing thing, but I think Del Toro would make it more interesting.

The boxing one, Cinderella man, was pretty good. Didn't watch the romantic comedy. I don't think I overly enjoyed any Del Toro movie, even Traffic.
 

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