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[Cinema News] Marvel Being Cheap With 'Avengers 2', Cast Ready To Rumble

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by percicles, May 7, 2013.

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percicles Contributing Member

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I thought this might interest some on the board. A behind the scenes look at how y'alls favorite movies get made. I personally find this stuff fascinating, very much akin to when pro sports owners fight with players over money. Looks long but really a short read.

Robert Downey Jr And ‘Avengers’ Cast Ready To Rumble With Stingy Marvel Over Sequel Money And Strong-Arming

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Tuesday May 7, 2013 @ 2:33pm PDT

EXCLUSIVE: Robert Downey Jr is set for another huge payday from a mega-hit Marvel movie, this time Iron Man 3. I’ve learned he’s already made $35 million from the actioner which grossed $680 million worldwide in its first 12 days. He should exceed his biggest payday to date — that $50M from The Avengers which I’ve learned was more like $70M-$80M now that the film is all in. But it’s really Avengers 2 where he’ll clean up big-time — if he wants to reprise the role. He’s hinting to some media it may be time to retire Tony Stark. And saying to other outlets that Marvel better show him more money for Avengers 2. ”I don’t know,” he said on The Daily Show. ”I had a long contract with them and now we’re gonna renegotiate.” (“You are Iron Man! You are!” cheered Jon Stewart.) I’ve learned that Marvel and therefore owner Disney are going to run into big trouble on that sequel because the upfront pay, backend compensation, break even points and box office bonuses aren’t pinned down yet for several big stars and castmates. This is major hurdle which Walt Disney Co Chaiman/CEO Bob Iger hasn’t even mentioned to Wall Street or shareholders although he’s already been hyping Avengers 2 for more than a year now.

First and foremost Marvel does not have Downey in place yet. ”They need him, and they don’t have him. He’s got a lot of leverage,” one insider tells me. Much less so Scarlett Johannsen (paid to pop up in Marvel movie after movie), Chris Evans (whom some sources say made his deal for Avengers 2 when he signed for Captain America 2), Chris Hemsworth (a much bigger star now than before and unsigned for Avengers 2), Mark Ruffalo (whose Hulk role already was cast 3 times and could be the most vulnerable), Jeremy Renner (probably grateful for more exposure), Samuel L. Jackson (Scarlett’s doppelganger) among others who were paid pittances for their first movies, not much better for the sequels, and are counting on at least $5 million upfront and better back ends for Avengers 2. That means much better than what Marvel claimed was Avengers’ break-even point: a whopping $1.1 billion in global grosses. (“If Avengers wasn’t profitable until then, why would you make it?” one rep pointedly asked Marvel top execs Kevin Feige and Louis Esposito.) In a business where studio accounting is known as fatal subtraction and even worldwide blockbusters are still supposedly in the red, Marvel and its famously frugal CEO Ike Perlmutter still give new meaning to the term stingy. I’ve learned that one reason why The Avengers was nominated for only one Oscar – Best Visual Effects – in the 85th Academy Awards contest was because Marvel refused to pay for an awards season campaign for the picture. And even when Disney offered to foot the bill, Marvel still wouldn’t budge. (Yet the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences assembled the cast onstage to create buzz.) Here’s how one exec describes any negotiation with Marvel: “I wouldn’t say it’s brutal. It’s uncompromising, not mean or draconian. The fact is this is the reality of the world we’re living in right now.”

But The Avengers cast are ready to rumble with Marvel for the Avengers sequel slated for a May 2015 release. “Some received only $200,000 for Avengers and Downey got paid $50M. On what planet is that OK?” an insider tells me. CAA represents an overwhelming majority of the Marvel stars and is trying hard to keep the negotiations out of the public limelight and media headlines. But that may not be possible with some reps blaming the studio for ’scorched earth’ tactics past and present. ”Marvel has created so much animosity by strong-arming and bullying on sequels already. It’s counterproductive,” one source tells me. Says another, “I’m sick of Kevin Feige telling me again and again how Marvel is ‘reinventing the movie business’. It doesn’t work like this. They’re reinventing business, period.” I’ve learned Marvel already has threatened to sue or recast when contracts and/or options are challenged. That prompted a few cast members to respond, “Go ahead.” I hear Hemsworth especially wasn’t anxious to go back into that arduous diet and training regimen and subsist primarily on egg whites for Thor: Dark World which hits theaters November 8th. I also understand that Scarlett Johanssen told castmates she’s “not going to cut her quote” for Marvel’s Avengers 2. The actress as butt-kicking operative Black Widow in The Avengers and Iron Man 2 is wrapping Captain America: The Winter Soldier and has a whopping 8 options total.

Already a lot of brinkmanship played out for Captain America 2 and Thor 2. Calling it the “weirdest experience”, one rep still can’t believe Marvel offered “only a $500,000 raise and then would pay another $500,000 when the movie hits $500M. Are they out of their minds?” When it was pointed out to Marvel that Hemsworth already had received $5M for his starring role in Snow White And The Huntsman, the studio shot back, ”I don’t know why you’re complaining when Marvel only has hit movies.” To which the response was, “He’s happier working at a place like Universal.” After hard-fought bargaining, Chris Evans for Captain America 2 and Chris Hemsworth for Thor 2 wound up with deals still weighted on the back end but at least with attainable break-even numbers and small upfront guarantees and box office bonuses.

The issue going forward is how many of the Avengers stars and starlets are still bound by early agreements and longterm options which Marvel can continue to exploit individually. To counter, I’ve learned the Avengers cast are becoming united behind Robert Downey Jr who is seen as the “leader” – like “a big brother” in the words of one rep - for all the younger actors in the ensemble. “He’s the only guy with real power in this situation. and balls of steel, too. He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like ****,” one source explains. Another rep tells me, “I have four words for Marvel – ‘**** you, call Robert.’” As Downey himself has said publicly about his $50M-plus payday, ”I’m what’s known as a strategic cost,” adding that Marvel is “so pissed” he earned that much. At this point also, no one is talking Iron Man 4 yet but it’s hard not to anticipate. Don Cheadle (who took over the role of James Rhodes in Iron Man 2 after Marvel pushed aside Terrence Howard) predicted there’s “potential” for a 4th installment. “No one has been specific about what that might look like or what the story could even be,” he said. “First we have to see how this one plays and if people have an appetite for it, and then we’ll figure out if there’s a way to convince Robert to come back and do another one.”

Some reps tried to go straight to Iger in hopes of discussing renegotiations since Disney purchased the multimedia empire in 2009 for $4.3B - but were rebuffed. “Wait, that’s Marvel. You need to talk to them. I can’t have this conversation,” Iger replied, thus totally distancing himself. Other reps hoped Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn would be helpful. But Horn made clear that Marvel greenlights their own movies and only “coordinates” with him. Besides, he tells reps, “Marvel is doing such a great job running itself.” (In fact Horn himself only met Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter last fall and told a pal about their get-together. “It could not have gone better. We had a meal. I was very impressed with his directness. We’re the same age: how could we not have a good time together?”)

The sad truth is that both Iger and Horn are scared stiff of Perlmutter and want to steer clear of the inevitable nightmare negotiations. Reps predict Ike is “going to create a lot of drama and going to want to prove a point and not look like he’s going to get run over”. Says one out of frustration: “I’m so bent out of shape by this *******. He now works for a public company so I don’t understand how he can keep hiding behind the curtain.” Easy, because the Israeli-born and reclusive Perlmutter, worth $2.4B, is Disney’s third largest individual shareholder. (He had been the second biggest shareholder but that changed when Disney added Star Wars to its empire and handed George Lucas a ginormous compensation package. Disney’s top shareholder remains the Steve Jobs Trust.) Disney never dared hope that The Avengers would reap $1.5 billion in worldwide box office revenue, the third highest global gross ever. Yet no castmember has ever heard from Ike. True, Kevin Feige phoned the cast that weekend opening, but it was a first. And Iger did pick up the phone to congratulate filmmaker Joss Whedon who recalled to Deadline recently: “He couldn’t have been sweeter. He said ‘This wasn’t about the other movies — you did this’.”

Acknowledging “I’m doing okay” compensation wise, Whedon reportedly has a “really rich deal” worth and astronomical $100M for several pics, consulting work, a put pilot at ABC, and many other elements,” one source tells me. But even Whedon admits that “Marvel can be very cheap” and believes the reason the cast aren’t ”getting giant quotes” is because of ”the element of the opportunity here for something that is both popular and very human, and usually you have to choose as an actor”. But he does see the potential contract hardball as “an issue”.

Here are the pertinent parts of that interview:

DEADLINE: Marvel is notoriously cheap and some of the Avengers cast will want more money for the sequel. How could that affect Avengers 2?
WHEDON: I’m not going to comment specifically because I’m not privy to that sort of stuff and I don’t think it’s my place to talk about. In general terms, yes – Marvel can be very cheap, God knows. They can also be sensible and frugal. They have a very small infrastructure and they’re not heaping this money on themselves. I don’t know a producer who’s done more and is paid less than Kevin Feige. I think that it’s an issue but it’s part of a bigger issue, which is there was a time when there was a crisis in the acting community where stars were getting $20 million and character actors were disappearing as a concept. There were no middle class actors. It was suddenly bit players and Jim Carrey, and that was it. Now the studios have gotten to a point where they’re like, “Do we need that star?” With what they’re able to to digitally and the way they create franchises there’s a little bit of a feeling of, maybe we can eliminate the actor – not totally and not totally cynically, but I’ve literally heard people at the agency say, not about Marvel, “This studio is eliminating the middle movie. They’re not making dramas or prestige pics or anything that isn’t either a franchise or a Paranormal-style found footage”. I think that changes the landscape for actors because really good actors are interested in doing a franchise because they need something.

DEADLINE: So are you worried about losing talent over these kinds of disputes?
WHEDON: I feel good about Avengers because I feel everyone who took it got something to sink their teeth into. They weren’t hung out to dry. It’s not a soulless piece of work. It may be inept in some places but I meant every word. Marvel distinguished themselves by going after good actors, writers, and directors who were unexpected choices. One side to that is they don’t have to pay them as much. Me, [Jon] Favreau, [Kenneth] Branagh, James Gunn – we don’t have giant action quotes, but we’re all filmmakers who want to do something with a giant action movie instead of just accomplish it. And the actors, from Downey straight on through, they only went after the people who could get it done. So how come they’re not getting giant quotes on this movie? There’s the element of the opportunity here for something that is both popular and very human, and usually you have to choose as an actor.

DEADLINE: A movie makes a billion dollars and an actor is looking at their contract for the next sequel…
WHEDON: And they’re probably going to mention that.

DEADLINE: You don’t think this could conceivably create any problems for Avengers 2?
WHEDON: I don’t, because that would make me sad and I tend to be a bit Pollyanna. I tend to think these roles can alter the course of a career. Not that Mark Ruffalo needs this or is in pursuit of this. That man will always work. But it doesn’t suck. We had an amazing time making the movie and that kind of recognition doesn’t hurt, if it’s not with Marvel or the next guy. It’s useful.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/robert-downey-jr-avengers-marvel-negotiations-fight/
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#1 percicles, May 7, 2013

Beezy Member

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New Hulk in every movie could become a running gag.

#2 Beezy, May 7, 2013
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I read this earlier. Marvel's cheapness could ultimately be their downfall if they recast.

#3 mrm32, May 7, 2013
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meh, they already got Captain and Thor locked down, all they need is Iron man. All the other actors are pretty replaceable IMO.

#4 LCII, May 7, 2013
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Actors are idiots. For a movie like The Avengers the backend should be huge.

#5 No Worries, May 7, 2013
rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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Marvel doesn't give a crap. People go see these movies because they are marvel comic characters, and not because of some actor. Only RDJ is really a draw.

#6 rockbox, May 7, 2013
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Not surprising. Everybody knows Marvel's one of the cheapest companies around...

Continuity is a huge part of successful sequels, and if they don't get the same crew back, then it'll certainly hurt the films. The casting for the first phase of The Avengers was fantastic all around. If they were smart, which I assume they are, they'll wise up and compensate.

#7 J Sizzle, May 7, 2013

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all this hoopla for an extremely overrated franchise. I've watched all the movies besides Thor and all of them are either overrated or just plain bad.

#8 TheRealist137, May 7, 2013
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TheRealist137 said: ↑

all this hoopla for an extremely overrated franchise. I've watched all the movies besides Thor and all of them are either overrated or just plain bad.
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True...plus I had to sit behind someone who smelled like a combination of poop in the pants with really bad cigs or something for ironman 3..by the time i realized i need to move, the theater was packed and I was gasping for air....

But I survived, and realized I did not enjoy the movie as much as I wanted, but thinking on it, that has been a trend with these Marvel movies as of late...man of steel, and Star Trek can't come soon enough!

#9 ROXRAN, May 7, 2013
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rockbox said: ↑

Marvel doesn't give a crap. People go see these movies because they are marvel comic characters, and not because of some actor. Only RDJ is really a draw.
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They need RDJ.

#10 juicystream, May 7, 2013
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I'll probably just download the next superhero movies if they keep on recasting it. The dude who runs Marvel is similar to Stern in that they care only about the bottom line.

#11 Jontro, May 7, 2013
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Never cared for the individual movies. Only Iron Man was really any good. The rest....meh...didn't even watch through most of them.

The Avengers though, was enjoyable.

#12 Uprising, May 7, 2013
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TheRealist137 said: ↑

all this hoopla for an extremely overrated franchise. I've watched all the movies besides Thor and all of them are either overrated or just plain bad.
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Iron Man was good. Avengers was fantastic. The rest were very forgettable.

And good decision to skip Thor. Easily the worst of the series.

#13 J Sizzle, May 7, 2013

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Marvel could threaten them with reboots. But after having a leg up on dc that scare tactic might not work.

#14 faraza84, May 7, 2013
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One the one hand, this Ike Perlmutter guy should be looked up to for really being a self made man, on the other hand, he's a notorious low-balling cheapskate.

Marvel's offices only have one men's room and women's room, for their hundreds of employees. They won't carry back issues or print extra inventory of trade paper backs. Comic Book stores complain about how they can never get a hold of older books that they could sell weekly, which is basically Marvel leaving money on the table because Perlmutter's idea of business is cost cutting your way to more profit instead of investing in the future.

#15 Oski2005, May 8, 2013
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Oski2005 said: ↑

One the one hand, this Ike Perlmutter guy should be looked up to for really being a self made man, on the other hand, he's a notorious low-balling cheapskate.

Marvel's offices only have one men's room and women's room, for their hundreds of employees. They won't carry back issues or print extra inventory of trade paper backs. Comic Book stores complain about how they can never get a hold of older books that they could sell weekly, which is basically Marvel leaving money on the table because Perlmutter's idea of business is cost cutting your way to more profit instead of investing in the future.
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How do you know so much about Marvel?

#16 LCII, May 8, 2013
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LCII said: ↑

How do you know so much about Marvel?
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Are you really asking that on an internet forum?

#17 Pringles, May 8, 2013
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LCII said: ↑

How do you know so much about Marvel?
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Marvel staffers and comic book store owners b**** about Marvel all the time. A couple of years ago, the comic book division didn't hit their projected profits. They were still profitable, but came in 5% under their projections. So a group of employees ended up getting laid off, presumably to make up that 5%.

#18 Oski2005, May 8, 2013

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I like it. Marvel knows how it works and you can't question the business savvy of any company run by a self made Jew. RDJ makes bank because he's a T-A-L-E-N-T. A real actor. The rest are
1. Eye candy
2. Interchangeable blue eyed blonde guys
3. Average actors who can't transcend their look

The cast needs the franchise MUCH more than the franchise needs the cast.

Comic book fans come to see action and characters. That's why it's so easy to start up a new Hulk or a new Spiderman and gain similar profits.

#19 Honey Bear, May 8, 2013
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If they didn't like their salary, they shouldn't have signed the contracts. But if they didn't sign their contracts, their careers wouldn't nearly be as golden as it is for some of them.

Don't complain because you picked your poison.

#20 Entropy, May 8, 2013

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