20th Century Fox drops out of "The Passion"

[BorderEevilIII]

FOX PULLS OUT OF THE PASSION

Mel Gibson's controversial religious epic "The Passion" has hit another stumbling block -- he's struggling to find a distributor to sell the movie after 20th Century Fox turned down the film.

The movie, which documents the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ in the ancient Aramaic language, has ruffled a lot of feathers -- most notable among Jewish groups, who claim the picture is anti-Semitic.

Yesterday Jewish leaders rallied outside the New York headquarters of News Corp. -- who own studios Fox. The company have a production deal with Gibson's Icon Productions and were favorites to pick up the movie.

And it seems the protest worked -- Fox have officially turned down their first option to distribute the flick.

Protester's cheered as a spokesperson for the firm announced, "Fox won't be involved."

sfgate/dailydish

[Scarface98.9]

This is interesting news, though I can't blame them for being timid as they are of a movie like this

[dh1989]

I am sure very soon Schmoes will flood this thread proclaiming how awful 20th Century Fox is now and how they've got no balls, but I disagree already.

If I was a distributor, I wouldn't touch The Passion with a 111-foot pole. Sure, it looks to be a brutal masterpiece, and it's director, Mel Gibson, is very passionate about it, but it's too hot. It'd be simple bad press to pick it up and suddenly have legions of Jews screaming their protests outside of your big city offices.

[RickySlade]

I'm not angry at 20th Century Fox, I'm angry at the protestors. I mean anti-semitism? For CHRISTS sake people. I'm a former catholic turned Atheist and in my time as a catholic, I would not be offended by anything of this sort. Mel Gibson is telling a story, just like every other director. If you find it offensive, incosiderate or ant-semitic...don't see it.

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by RickySlade
I'm not angry at 20th Century Fox, I'm angry at the protestors. I mean anti-semitism? For CHRISTS sake people. I'm a former catholic turned Atheist and in my time as a catholic, I would not be offended by anything of this sort. Mel Gibson is telling a story, just like every other director. If you find it offensive, incosiderate or ant-semitic...don't see it.

RickySlade is PUNNY! :D :D

[rilocay]

so the Jewish are pissed off because the movie suggests that the jewish of the day are to blame for christ's death. Well correct me if i am wrong but wasnt everyone back then JEWISH, and if everyone WAS jewish then technically they ARE to blame (back then not modern ones) for christs death because it was a jewish person or ppl who sentanced (or wateva) his death. Im not trying to be raeligist (my word for the religion thing of racism) but if im right in wat im saying and that the jews are against that isnt that just pure stupidity, no matter wat race or religion? Please correct me or tell me wat the jews are aainst this for.

[JCR]

Imdb reported last week that several companies- paramount, lions gate, sony picture classics etc. are interested. I think someone will pick it up, if only because there's no way it won't make money after all this hype.

I just think it's slightly ironic. Icon drops fahrenheit 9/11 because it's too hot and then mel gets in trouble for an even more controversial movie weeks later. Such is life.

[ilovemovies]

Originally posted by dh1989
I am sure very soon Schmoes will flood this thread proclaiming how awful 20th Century Fox is now and how they've got no balls, but I disagree already.

If I was a distributor, I wouldn't touch The Passion with a 111-foot pole. Sure, it looks to be a brutal masterpiece, and it's director, Mel Gibson, is very passionate about it, but it's too hot. It'd be simple bad press to pick it up and suddenly have legions of Jews screaming their protests outside of your big city offices.


Well I disagree. If The Passion is great like some people have been saying who've seen it, then I would distribute it regardless of how controversial it may be. I'm not mad at FOX but they have no balls whatsoever if they are going to let religious groups timid them into not distributing a movie.

[Slim]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Well I disagree. If The Passion is great like some people have been saying who've seen it, then I would distribute it regardless of how controversial it may be. I'm not mad at FOX but they have no balls whatsoever if they are going to let religious groups timid them into not distributing a movie.

Ditto. I wouldn't be surprised if Lions Gate Films ends up distributing it. They got yarbles.

[Nate6]

I think studios need to take a leap of faith sometimes. I know they'd be flooded with protestors, I know it's a business, I know all that shit. But the fact is, when people see the film I'm confident they'll realize it's NOT anti-Semitic. Fox would have been admired in the long run had they just grown some testicles, because I think the movie will be seen as a masterpiece over time if it's as good as people say it is.

Bad press lasts a few months, at most. A great movie lasts a lifetime.

[randythetool]

The same thing happened with Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" back in 1988. It'll get distribution, in spite of the protests.

[Freeway]

Fox could have just made a huge mistake. The film is getting so much press that it will easily make money and whoever distributes it will get richer because of it. My bet is that Lions Gate will pick it up because they seem to love distributing films that other studios won't touch (see House of 1000 Corpses, American Psycho). That is what makes Lions Gate a great studio.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by dh1989
It'd be simple bad press to pick it up and suddenly have legions of Jews screaming their protests outside of your big city offices.

a) It'll be bad press AND good press. Because a lot of open-minded people, critics, movie buffs, religious representants are also gonna like it if it's as good as it looks.

b) Bad press is press nevertheless. And that's why I think THE PASSION is, from a financial viewpoint, almost a sure winner. Because whatever happens, its release won't go unnoticed. And controversy sells. Big time.

I love the trailer, I love Mel Gibson, and I love BRAVEHEART. Someone better distribute this movie because I wanna see it quick.

[KcMsterpce]

Every time a movie about Jesus Christ is made, protestors form. For one reason or another. The Catholic church always has a monstrous stick up their ass when they hear about their religion being used for movies.

Fuck them all.

Those protestors piss me the fuck off.

I love The Last Temptation of Christ. I love how it gives a different perspective on Christ. I don't care if I believe in The Bible or not, a movie is a movie. I try to watch a MOVIE based on entertainment before realism.

Why don't people make protests to any movie that is based off of real life people or events, because every single movie that does so is exagerating the truth and altering history for entertainment value?

So fuck them. I should protest the next movie based on a true story. Hell, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is being remade, which is based off of a true event, supposedly. That's a double whammy!

<runs off to start making protest signs...>

[Raoul Duke]

Didn't the same thing happen with Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ? Lots of these bible thumping religous nut cases all rallied against it. Then the movie came out, and everything cooled down. Because there wasn't a whole lot to be upset about.

I'm pretty sure ANY movie that comes out that deals with God, Jesus, religion, whatever will be controversial.

[Scarface98.9]

Every time I hear a story about religious groups protesting a movie, I'm always reminded of the "Dogma is Dog" story Kevin Smith once told. It's stories like those that I figure studios should just ignore all the groups and pay top dollar for that movie

[DaMovieMan]

Lions Gate or Sony Picutres will become distruibuters...they rarely have problems with controversial movies.

DMM

[EDsoulsurvive*]

Fox is really starting to piss me off. First, they ditch Wrong Turn, now they're passing this away....

yeah basically i just want a reason to bitch about how Fox screwed over Wrong Turn.

Anyway, never fear, this movie is gunna find a new distributer without a problem, IMO.

[APzombie]

I think these 'anti-Semitic' groups are more upset with History than with the film. :rolleyes:

[darkface]

Originally posted by APzombie
I think these 'anti-Semitic' groups are more upset with History than with the film. :rolleyes:

hah, that's exactly what i was thinking! This is so stupid. It's a movie, it's not a documentary, it's a movie. Don't watch it then. No matter which way the movie was done, someone would have protested or would have been pissed. I just hope someone distributes it and has the balls to go all the way with it. Especially before april rolls around considering they'll most likely keep the date.

[Lynn Minmei]

Originally posted by Raoul Duke
I'm pretty sure ANY movie that comes out that deals with God, Jesus, religion, whatever will be controversial.

Absolutely. It will annoys so many people when films are made about these sacred themes, so protesters are almost guarantees.

[rushmore beauty]

Originally posted by Slim
Ditto. I wouldn't be surprised if Lions Gate Films ends up distributing it. They got yarbles.

EXACTLY what I was thinking. And about The Last Temptation of Christ (8/10)...I have no idea why it was so controversial as the opening credits read that the movie isn't based on the gospels, but a book about them. I know though that The Passion will be one of the greatest films ever made...those trailers are brilliant, violent and beautiful. Gibson's done a masterful job.