io9 
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San Francisco, 12:21 PM
Tue Dec 1
28 posts in the last 24 hours
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11:14 AM
09:20 AM
Wait, he's STILL not Superman yet?? I stopped watching 5 seasons ago. Can he at least hold flight yet or is it still a Greatest American Hero sort of deal?
08:18 AM
07:34 AM
It's been in development hell since 2007, it looked like it was finally 'green lit' (sic) in April '09, when Warner Bros. announced it was going to be shot at Fox Studios in Australia with a budget of $150m US.
March was the absolute low of the stock market (and high of the US dollar), since the start of the credit crisis, so it looks like that announcement (like many others) was prompted by the rocketship recovery of the stock market (up 60%+ now) that was clearly underway by April.
'Unfortunately' it was also the point at which the US dollar started to plummet (US issuing new debt like confetti, unemployment rocketing, tax take plummeting) and the Australian dollar started to rocket (Oz, commodity producer bouncing back, fast).
By October this added up to a 35% combined currency move, in the 'wrong' direction, filming in Oz was cancelled and no new location announced [New Orleans is now being floated as an alternate location (tax incentives, anyone?), for sometime next year, maybe, for release in mid-2011, maybe].
What this actually means, is that Warner Bros borrowed the $150m US dollar budget (so that's where your TARP funds went!) in March, bought Oz-dollars with it, and by October this pile of Oz-dollars was worth $200m+ US dollars.
So, Warner Bros said "Peachy!", sold the Oz-dollars for US dollars, paid off the loan (yeah, right!) and pocketed a $50m US dollar profit without ever filming a single frame of 'Green Lantern'.
It's no coincidence that just prior to the October announcement, the upper levels of Warner Bros management was 'rearranged' and control of its previously autonomous, DC Comics division, was taken in house.
New boss, new plan. Out with the old movie.
It's the way of the corporate gun.
Ryan Reynolds is an asset, he'll be reassured by Warner Bros that it's just 'delayed', until they've found a cheaper, less risky, more profitable franchise to use him in, then 'Green Lantern' will be quietly forgotten.
Until the next time.
08:52 AM
it's unlikely WarnerBros is pleased with the amount of money they've already spent - and now lost - in the development of this film.
12:10 PM
How Warner Bros locked in that exchange rate doesn't matter (currency futures, a custom-written over-the-counter currency option etc.), except for the fact that if they borrowed a specific sum ($150m US), for this specific purpose (making 'Green Lantern'), then "changed their plans, due to exigent circumstances" and close the production down, the $50m 'windfall profit' would be treated much more favourably, for tax purposes, as all costs incurred in the development of 'Green Lantern' would be set-off.
A straight $50m US profit, on $150m US of capital employed, in seven months, is hugely more profitable, than going ahead and making the film.
Warner Bros divisions were expected to meet a 17% annual growth target last year ('08), nobody cares how they make their targets this year. Just that they do.
The announcement of the 'cancellation', of the 'Green Lantern' production, will be determined by Warner Bros's accounting purposes. Nothing else.
06:20 AM
06:09 AM
Never mind, once I've had it explained to me over-and-over-and-over again, I'll stop caring.
So that's alright then.
06:13 AM
06:25 AM
08:38 AM
Or...something like that...
11/30/09
It's pretty good... compared to the other FF episodes anyhow, but shit actually happens, and we get quite a few answers.
So not to shabby overall.
11/30/09
Seeing as how it was already revealed they were lizards, I wasn't disappointed.
What I'm hoping for is that Anna is part of a mammoth warning plot where she has already turned against her whole race and wants to save earth, and that she'll reveal her real motives to the fifth column once the revealed BIG fleet is in range. I'm not holding my breath. It's probably going to be stupid.
I'm not really intrigued by Alice. "NEW, MODERN, EDGY, OOOH!" if you want to be new, modern, and edgy, make something new, modern, and edgy.
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
My saturaday morning shows are complete!
11/30/09
2 of 7 here.
11/30/09
I'd almost forgot that it would be returning Friday. I'm so excited.
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
So don't even think about it!
River.
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/30/09
11/26/09
11/28/09
11/28/09