16 November 2003
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Will Japan distrib deal stiff Dino's 'Alex'?
By Michael Fleming, Gabriel Snyder
The great race to mount an epic film about Alexander the Great has tipped decisively toward Oliver Stone.
While indications abound that the rival film by producer Dino De Laurentiis and director Baz Luhrmann may be postponed for two or more years, Stone's backers, Intermedia/IMF and Summit Entertainment, have just brokered Japanese distribution rights to Shochiku and Nippon Herald at Mifed.
Arrangement seems to ease any doubt that Intermedia had the mettle to cover costs on the film, which is shooting in London and reputed to cost upwards of $150 million.
That no major Japan deal had been completed was attributed to the stature in that marketplace of Leonardo DiCaprio, who was long expected to be Luhrmann's bronze conqueror.
One of the major cogs in De Laurentiis' financing plan was a presale deal with Gaga in Japan. But DiCaprio, who just finished starring in "The Aviator" for director Martin Scorsese, is likely to next star in Robert DeNiro-helmed history of the CIA "The Good Shepherd" at Universal. DiCaprio has no deal to star in Luhrmann's film, and no one is saying his participation is automatic anymore.
The Japanese distribution for Stone's pic deal was sealed with Nippon Herald CEO Hiromitsu Furukawa and Shockiku managing director Takeo Hisamatsu.
Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and Val Kilmer star in the pic, and production began Sept. 22 in Morocco. The film is due to complete filming in Thailand early next year. Warner Bros. plans to release it Thanksgiving 2004.
While the film mobilized enough funds to begin production through a "Europudding" of presales and subsidies, Japan had been the major territorial holdout.
De Laurentiis remains bullish about his Alexander project, and said the rival film's deal with Shochiku and Nippon Herald has no bearing on his film, though he doesn't know when production on it may begin.
While Luhrmann supervised a script rewrite by David Hare, it's now whispered that he may take another assignment before tackling his Alexander story. Hare's script will be delivered in February.
"We just had a meeting with Baz and we're having one with Stacey Snider next week, but we will not proceed until we see the script," De Laurentiis said. "This is about very different visions that Oliver and Baz have. These are two very, very different movies, and truly the only thing they have in common is the same character."
"Baz is a perfectionist and we feel no need to rush," De Laurentiis continued. "The key is for this picture to be very well done and to be well prepared because it will be very expensive. Universal and DreamWorks are still in place, and we have our deal in Japan with Gaga."
Intermedia got its film into production first through a domestic distribution deal with Warner Bros.; a deal to include Pathe as its French co-producer to access Gallic subsidies that cover distribution in France and the Benelux countries; a sale and leaseback deal that brought British tax breaks; equity from Intermedia's German fund IMF; and distribution deals with Tri Pictures in Spain, Constantin in Germany, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Woo Sung Cinemas in Korea and Spentzos in Greece. Warners also bought Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.
Getting strong distribution in Japan was a key for Intermedia chairman Moritz Borman and Summit's Patrick Wachsberger and Bob Hayward, who've been selling territories.
"Oliver and I are thrilled to have these two great film companies distributing the movie in such an important territory," Borman said in a statement. "Combined, Shochiku and Nippon Herald give this film the best opportunity for success in Japan."