While Universal denies the rumor, The Hollywood Reporter says that in mid-June, Universal executives met to discuss BATTLESHIP and pull the plug on the film. They eventually decided to go ahead with the project but decided to limit the amount of on-water shooting to just five days (with the rest shot on soundstages in Hawaii and Baton Rouge).
It would not be the first time Universal has pulled the plug on a high-profile project before shooting could begin. It halted AMERICAN GANGSTER before replacing the director, replacing some of the cast and eventually restarting a few months later. It also dropped the Josh Brolin drama CARTEL, five weeks before filming was set to begin.
While Berg seems to have righted his ship (ahem…), it still seems there’s some hand-wringing at the studio over whether BATTLESHIP can sink the competition. Hmm, anymore boat-related puns before I leave?
What do you guys think? Are you interested in a alien-invasion movie set at sea based off a board game?