Feig’s Ghostbusters movie was greeted with mixed to positive reviews when it opened, but suffered from a wave of negative publicity in the months leading up to release after its trailer became the most-disliked ever on YouTube. Now, the movie stands at $180 million at the global box office, which is barely above half of what it was supposed to make, and means the studio should brace themselves for a loss of about $70 million. Sony, the studio behind the film, previously said that for the film to break-even would require revenue of $300 million. Sony execs have yet to officially cancel plans for a live-action sequel, but they have commented on moving forward with an animated Ghostbusters feature that could hit theaters as early as 2019, and a new animated TV series titled Ghostbusters: Ecto Force due in 2018. But film chief Tom Rothman and his team, along with partner Village Roadshow, had high hopes for launching a live-action Ghostbusters “universe”.
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A studio representative spoke to THR, expressing how “proud” the company was for having “enlivened the 30-year-old brand” with “the modern zeitgeist”.
After the mid-July bow Sony executives thought a sequel to the all-female remake was assured.
The PC victimhood adventure that is the Ghostbusters 2016 reboot is estimated to have a staggering 70 million dollars in losses after hitting theaters with a boring thud this Summer.
The cast are said to be signed for at least two sequels, but for now anymore Ghostbusters is on hold.
Of course, that also brings us back to the general anti-remake/reboot/sequel feeling now opposing Hollywood, which made up most of the backlash against Ghostbusters. Indeed, according to box-office analyst Jeff Bock speaking to THR, any chance of a sequel is even more unlikely.
“I just can’t fathom the creative talents behind it-Feig, McCarthy, Wiig, etc. -slogging out another [Ghostbusters] when the reception to the first one was so mediocre”, he said.
Sony disputes the amount of the potential loss, insisting that revenue streams from merchandising and such attractions as a new Ghostbusters exhibit at Madame Tussauds and a theme park ride in Dubai will help defray any deficit.
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“This loss calculation is way off”.
