Cinematical

In making Serenity here in Southern California, Joss has become sort of a local hero as one of the very few directors to have actually kept his film production in Los Angeles. This, coupled with the $30 million prerequisite gross for Serenity, might just earn him enough brownie points towards getting the financial backing to make Serenity 2.

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The studio only gets roughly half of what's taken in by the box office, so for the $40 million they put in, they've only gotten back about $15 million.

Apparently Joss Whedon said (somewhere, can't remember where) that a sequel is more or less greenlighted if domestic box office gets over 50 million or world-wide is over 80.

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Wait, I thought any chance of a sequal was pretty much killed off (literally) by taking away 2 of the main castmembers? Well... guess they were the most minor of the bunch. Course... wouldn't they make more bank if they just brought back the series? Or would that just be one more nail in the coffin for the plum-retarded and disconnected Fox executives who routinely cancel great fan-based shows while dumping tons of money into half-assed reality tv show-contests that give all of television a bad name, misrepresent American ideals, and drag all of society further into the gutters.

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FOX retains the TV rights for the series for some insane amount of years (7 or 8?) so the TV series coming back is very unlikely.

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How was Serenity 1?

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Don't forget DVD sales (as well as next-gen DVD sales in the nearish future) count in the total gross as well. I'm sure they can make enough money to justify a sequel.

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Well I'd love to see a sequel because I'm a big fan of the writing but so many (all but 1 in fact) of the story lines were tied up. The Tams are no longer sought by the Alliance, at least not for the same reasons, the mystery of Reavers (Rievers, Reevers) is solved. Simon and Kaylee finally do it. And I'm sure with the noteriety from whistleblowing the Alliance's plans all the members of the crew can get sweet endorsement deals as pitchmen/women so they don't have to scrounge for money. The only story line left is Mal and Inara hooking up and seeing how Joss draws out the "love" storyline (Buffy and Angel)he wouldn't let that happen for another 2 movies.

Here's to Serenity: Broken Alliance in Spring 2007.

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Even with the box office take, the film is still a gem to Universal because they will be able to show it in perpetuity on their cable channels such as USA and SciFi. Plus, this flick will do well on DVD. Look how Batman Begins is currently doing on DVD compared to its box office take proportionately. This flick will find its audience on DVD.

Still, I'd like to see an Angel theatrical film.

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Wasn't this supposed to be the new Star Wars but ended up being similar to Catwoman in terms of interest and widespread appeal?

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Catwoman was a movie so unworthy that I would not even pirate it. Well, I did download it but I deleted the whole thing after the first ten minutes. Why did anyone get paid for that flick?

Serenity is a good flick. And despite it only costing $35 million, the effects made it look much more expensive. Go see it if you haven't already. Its good. Just feel free to toss an egg at any starkravingmad browncoat scaring away potential viewers by lurking in the lobby of the theatre sans bathing.

As for Selina Kyle showing up in the next Batman film, I'm all for giving that role to Rosario Dawson.

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Come on now, Catwoman? That movie had a production cost of 100 million, made only 40 domestically, 80 worldwide... Even if interest for the two movies was the same (which is an incorrect assumption, that movie is both horrible and absurd.), it doesn't look like they had a chance of making back the money, and they had big stars to add to the draw in the movie.

Serenity is at around 33 globally, with a production cost of 39 according to Box Office Mojo.

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Well I can only hope Joss decides to get it done within the next two years, because in all honesty it's not like it takes months and months to shoot this movie.

AND by the way, studios get about 90 to 100 percent of a movie, NOT fifty percent. That's why it costs so much to eat and drink at the movies. THAT is where the theatres make their money, NOT from the box office take.

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Actually, I heard Universal bought ALL rights to Firefly from Fox. It makes sense too. How else would Sci-Fi be able to run all the episodes? Universal owns them. I can't remember where I read it, but I do believe Universal bought ALL rights. I think the return of the series would be great on the Sci-Fi channel!!!

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I agree with the part about who gets what money from ticket sales. Concession prices are high because that is where most theaters make most of their money. I worked for Regal Cinemas for a year. Big releases are often not allowed passes & such because those are typically issued from the theater companies, thus taking away from opening revenues. Typically those restrictions only last a week or two but for huge movies I've seen 'em run a month. After a while theaters might start seeing a trickle from ticket sales but only after the production companies have turned focus more to newer movies.

As for the rights issue, that's all rumors still until someone from Universal puts out an official statement. A rumor for a rumor though, supposedly the 'Fox owns for 10 years' one was started at a con, and was later debunked at a different con.

Comparing Catwoman & Serenity is like comparing Howard the Duck & Officespace. There's a bad movie that is just bad & doesn't do well, then there's an unusual good movie that does well in the long run (particularly in DVD sales). If you're going to compare you might as well choose two that are at least somehow related.

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Just to clarify who owns Firefly. 20th Century Fox (the TV production studio division) still owns the trademark and copyrights to Firefly; not Fox the TV network. Two different FOX divisions. NBC-Universal recently purchase the telecast (syndication) rights to re-air Firefly on the SciFi Channel.

Universal Pictures bought limited rights from 20th Century Fox to allow Universal to make a motion picture (Serenity). 20th Century Fox retains the TV side and Universal is motion picture only.

Hope this help.

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I like the Serenity series and the Movie. I hope there will be 2nd Movie. I have not clue as to the numbers. Farscape was a good series on SciFi and it was canceled.

I do not believe any of the numbers in concern ratings or box office sales. I seen movie that truly sucked and no one attended or saw. Yet the media claimed it was a great Box success.

Everyone thing good thoughts and hope thee we be a Serenity 2, 3 to 10.

Steve
noppie@angrydogpress.net
www.angrydogpress.net

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I'm from Australia and serenity did very well here i have seen it a few times and each time it was packed i find it almost crominal that a show/movie like firefly/serenity is most likly over when you have shows like the o.c and biggest losser on tv joss whedons ideas are great and i only hope serenity will have a part 2'3'4 and on and on

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