Things aren’t looking good for Paul Greengrass‘ Green Zone follow-up Memphis. With production aiming to start in June, Universal Pictures was set to finance and distribute. But Deadline now reports they have pulled the plug. The studio claims the reason is due to “timing and scheduling,” They were hoping to finish the film in time for MLK weekend in February 2012.
There is reportedly a deeper reason though. Just as Precious director Lee Daniels‘ next project Selma (also about MLK) fell through, the reason is attributed to the Martin Luther King estate. There are rumors they are unhappy with the script, which could lead to negativity when it comes to sell the film to audiences. It could also have to do with their backing of another MLK project at DreamWorks, scripted by Ronald Harwood, and that they want only that to move forward. With Universal dropping out, producer Scott Rudin and Greengrass are now looking for “another backer to keep the film on track.”
If the production doesn’t come to fruition there have been a few other Greengrass is interested in, but it is unknown to what level he could pursue them again. He is attached to a remake of The Fantastic Voyage with producer James Cameron. There is also Treasure Island at WB and Cleopatra 3D with Angelina Jolie, but it looks like that may be in David Fincher’s hands. If he doesn’t find a backer for Memphis soon, let’s hope he can find a new project. Green Zone was indeed a failure, but I look forward to what he does next.
What studio should take on Memphis? Should Greengrass focus on something else?