New Line had to walk a tightrope of making sure it created something that wouldn’t seem derivative, while also not alienating fans of previous versions. In an earlier draft, he said, characters Richie Tozier and Stanley Uris were merged into a composite kid. He also saved some characters from the scrap pile. New Line then took the film to Andy Muschietti, whom the studio had courted for various movies since his Universal hit “Mama.” Muschietti, pitching his vision for New Line executives, brought in a marked-up script and doodles, saying he wanted to stay true to King’s book in the visuals and tone. Director Cary Fukunaga, who’d written a script for “It,” left the project in 2015 over creative disagreements with the studio. “Having the flexibility to be able to try stuff out and succeeding at it has been energizing.” “That was one of the very pivotal moments for us in creating that genre strategy,” Blackwood said. Sandberg, who went on to direct “Annabelle: Creation” for the studio and is now working on the DC film “Shazam.” Blackwood recently got New Line into the business of making microbudget horror movies starting with “Annabelle,” based on the demonic doll that was a highlight of the first “Conjuring.” “Lights Out” was based on a viral video by Swedish director David F. It’s led to some risky bets on new ideas and filmmakers. “You get the added fear of hoping they’re safe as opposed to some other movies where you can’t wait to see how they die.” “With ‘The Conjuring’ and now ‘It,’ you have these characters and families that you fall in love with,” Brener said. That helps broaden the appeal of horror beyond just devotees.Ģ017 fall movie preview: ‘It,’ ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and more » The films typically feature relatable characters and family themes in scary-movie settings, in contrast to the disposable victims of earlier classic slasher films. New Line’s approach to horror has adapted over the years. Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions has become famous for low-budget horror, including this year’s phenomenon “Get Out” from Universal Pictures. New Line, which made its name as the home of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” has had to evolve with changing tastes and rising competition. He’s someone who has a real gut for filmmaking and storytelling.” Richard can speak director, he can speak screenwriter, he can speak producer. “Her resume, skill set and personality hit a lot of touch points that you need to run an effective company. “Carolyn is a lawyer and would be on the shortlist for the COO job at any major studio,” Emmerich said. They have been working together so long that they often finish each other’s sentences. Also key to the strategy are Walter Hamada and Dave Neustadter, who handle the day-to-day production duties on horror films.Īudiences’ tastes for horror have changed rapidly since Brener and Blackwood joined the company in the 1990s and formed a successful, if unique, partnership. The horror hot streak is well-timed for New Line’s new co-heads Blackwood and Richard Brener, who were elevated when Emmerich took a larger role overseeing Warner Bros. And more than ever, horror films represent a safe bet compared to expensive action flicks, so many of which flopped this summer in what has become a feast-or-famine business.įor a genre that is often seen as the ugly stepchild, New Line doesn’t treat it like that. The first “Annabelle” grossed $256 million but cost just $6.5 million to produce. As an added bonus, they tend to be cheap to make. Horror movies tend to do well because they attract loyal fan bases and lend themselves to big-screen, communal viewing in the confines of a dark theater. “For a genre that is often seen as the ugly stepchild, New Line doesn’t treat it like that,” said “Conjuring” director James Wan. The four “Conjuring” movies combined have generated more than $1 billion in ticket sales since 2013, making New Line a consistently reliable money maker for Warner Bros. The latest installment, August’s “Annabelle: Creation,” has grossed $253 million worldwide on a $15-million production budget. Though horror has often been dismissed as a low-quality cash grab, the genre has been getting more respect in recent years, partly thanks to well-reviewed movies from New Line, such as 2013’s “The Conjuring,” based on demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.
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