The L.A. Times has a very interesting little article concerning the progress of Reliance Entertainment and Lionsgate’s sci-fi thriller DREDD, the big-screen update of the legendary comic book starring Karl Urban and Lena Headey. Though we’re still almost a year away from the flick’s release, there’s some drama brewing behind-the-scenes that could severely affect the finished product.
According to several of the site’s sources, original director Pete Travis has been pushed aside in the editing room. In fact, the report is that Travis hasn’t been involved in the DREDD’s post-production at all. Instead, writer-producer Alex Garland is running the show; so much so that he may even seek a co-director credit. That would be pretty unheard of, considering the man didn’t even shoot the film. (The times notes that Garland has not yet made that decision yet.)
From the article: Although the specifics of the disagreement that led to Travis’ dismissal are up for debate, two sources said it arose when Travis and producers and executives in charge of the production did not see eye-to-eye on footage Travis was delivering. A separate person involved in the film maintained that although Travis is no longer involved in postproduction, he is keeping up with progress via the Internet and has not been pushed aside.
They also mention that reshoots are most likely in the cards.
This kind of thing is never good for a film. Reshoots always happen, yes, but a major changing of the guard in post-production often results in a movie that’s unfocused, at best – a disaster at worst. We shouldn’t assume that’s the case with DREDD – which doesn’t come out until next September – but if these reports are accurate, there’s definitely cause for concern. That is, if you gave a hoot in the first place.