The Real Story Behind Those Newbie 'Terminator' Producers
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, Sony, Warner Brothers, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels, Summer Movies
Hollywood: the only city in the world where having lunch at the right Italian cafe could net you millions of dollars. Two fledgling producers named Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek parlayed a tip from a dining partner into a deal for the rights to the Terminator series, resulting in Terminator Salvation and a deal that entitles them to "rake in half of any profits that might come from box-office, DVD and television sales as well as all the proceeds from a new video game and other consumer products," reports the Los Angeles Times. Dreams do come true -- as long as you can talk somebody else into forking over millions of dollars to reward your moxie, good timing, and luck.
It's a fascinating story, and well worth reading for anyone interested in the business side of Hollywood -- and for anyone who wonders, "What's a producer?" In this case, newbie producers Anderson and Kubicek (who only had one credit prior to Salvation on a film that was never released) thought they had a deal in place for millions of dollars in financing from Dubai, and so made a $25 million offer on the rights to Terminator, which were available from independent producers Andrew Vajna and Mario Kassar. When the Dubai financing fell through, the duo got another "lucky break" in the form of a commitment from a Santa Barbara hedge fund. The producers then secured funding and distribution from Warner Bros. and Sony, decided on McG as director and Christian Bale as star, and the rest is history. The producing duo also controls sequel rights and reportedly have McG signed up for one sequel and Bale for two more.
The Times also details various lawsuits that have followed in their wake, so it's not all roses and champagne for Anderson and Kubicek. Still, nice work if you can get it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-26-2009 @ 6:54PM
Jane Curtain said...
Make a Terminator movie *with* McG and *without* Arnold. Good call newbies. Your careers are officially over...
Reply
5-26-2009 @ 7:04PM
Jay said...
Oh man, after Bale went on his psychotic tirade during the last movie, he's got to bite the bullet and do two more? I have the feeling that he lost his temper because he realized that all the people he was surrounded by were amateurs (oh, and the death of Leger stole his Batman spotlight). Poor, poor, millionaire Bale...
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5-27-2009 @ 1:11AM
Mr.R said...
Dude, I think Bale, despite it all, is doing pretty well, your pity sounds kind of pathetic. You only wish, and I am not a big fan, just a realist.
5-29-2009 @ 7:29PM
Mary said...
Aw geez, Anderson is a brand-marketer? If you say marketing execs making creative decisions is an art-killer, there goes your proof.
ps - is anyone still foolish enough to think Bale didn't have a damn good reason for blowing up on set, or wonder who the idiots were that released the tape?
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