Today Sony Pictures has picked up blaxploitation film Black Dynamite for $2 million. It is the story of 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite. The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Firstshowing.net reports that Sony believes “the franchise has the potential to become as big as Austin Powers or the Friday films. They’re planning to spend a lot of money marketing it later in the year and put it out sometime in the second half of 2009.”
Here is a trailer thanks to Firstshowing.net:
Yesterday Antoine Fuqua’s (Shooter, King Arthur) crime-drama Brooklyn’s Finest was picked up by Senator Entertainment (and co-venture with Sony Pictures) for less than $5 million, with a promise of $10 million in marketing. Variety reports that Senator will release the film in the fourth quarter for awards consideration. They also say the ending may be reworked. Starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, and Ethan Hawke, the film is about three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring vastly different career paths.
Black Dynamite looks like it delivers from the early positive reviews, but I can see Brooklyn’s Finest being a bit boring.
Are you looking forward to these films?