Amazon, the same e-commerce destination where you can buy socks in bulk, reportedly doled out a jaw-dropping $15 million to acquire the rights for Woody Allen's next film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The untitled movie features Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively and Kristen Stewart. However, even with that impressive cast, the film industry is still shocked with the cost. Sony Pictures Classics, which had partnered with Allen on his previous eight films, paid $5 million for the director's last effort, "Irrational Man."
THR reports that the deal called for $15 million upfront and "more than $20 million with prints-and-advertising costs" when all is said and done. Industry insiders can't decide if it's a bold move that signifies Amazon's official arrival to the Hollywood party or a rash decision made out of desperation.
"It's not crazy after the $10 million they paid for Manchester by the Sea," said a rival distributor of Amazon's splashy purchase at Sundance.
Is it a crazy move on Allen's part?
The 80-year-old director has enjoyed a career resurgence since joining SPC. His last eight films have earned 10 Academy Award nominations and two wins - Best Original Screenplay for "Midnight in Paris" and Best Actress for Cate Blanchett in "Blue Jasmine."
"Amazon made us an offer we couldn't refuse, and we have a responsibility to our investors," said Letty Aronson, the film's producer. "Woody wishes SPC could be the subdistributor for this film, but apparently they would not."
However, THR's sources say that Allen invested his own money to finish the film after it went over budget, while another source said that he was looking for a change. After all, "Irrational Man" failed to connect with critics and earned just $4 million at the domestic box office. Plus, Amazon, which had already partnered with Allen on his first ever TV series, promised a wide theatrical release with a theatrical distributor to be named later.
Here's to hoping the change leads to a better finish product than Allen's most recent outing!
