July
20
Master and Commander Redux
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World has all the elements of the kind of movie that keeps studio heads up at night: it's literary (based on the Patrick O'Brian seafaring series), period (Napoleonic), expensive (close to $150 million), packed with action (swords, pistols, rifles and cannons) and VFX (ships at sea under fire). That's why, even though the Napoleonic adventure movie looks like a success, grossing $209.5 million worldwide, it was a nail biter for Twentieth Century Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman at the time. (He took on partners in the venture, and had to push back the release to get the FX finished.) The well-reviewed awards contender (nominated for ten Oscars, it won two) barely made its production and marketing costs back. (Here's my NYT story from 2003.)
It makes sense that Russell Crowe (post-State Of Play) would want to return to the juicy role of Captain Jack Aubrey in what should be a big adventure franchise. A script is in the works based on the 11th novel set in the Caribbean, dealing with Aubrey's illegimate son, a priest.
But this sort of heavy-duty period movie about ships at sea is tough to execute: Master and Commander had finicky Australian Peter Weir at the helm. Rothman wooed him by laying a mock captain's sword on his lap and asking him to take command of the HMS Surprise. Weir has been unwilling to return for a sequel.
Fox says it's early days yet, with no deals in place.
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Master and Commander is one of the best films of the decade, i'd love to see a sequel - but only from Peter Weir. If another director comes onboard it's a given that the intelligence and sensitivity will be whittled down. I wonder if crowe has spoken to his mate Ridley Scott about it?
Posted by: Mark | July 21, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I really loved M&C: The Far Side of the World. I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that Russell Crowe will reprise his Capt. Aubrey role in a sequel whether Weir is at the helm or not.
Posted by: Jo-anne F. | July 21, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Who is the writer? I didn't think there was one...but of course shoddy reporting by Anne is the norm.
Posted by: Johnny Max | July 21, 2009 at 04:43 PM
The A.P. story reports that Crowe says a script is already written; Fox says there is no script yet.
Posted by: anne Thompson | July 21, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I loved the books and would love to see a complete series of movies more closely following the books. I truly hope that at least a sequel will come about. BUT, only Russell Crowe IS Jack Aubry!
Peter Weir did a wonderful job. The cinematography was amazing and the attention to detail in the movie was fantastic!
Paul Bettney did a great job as the doctor even though he didn't look anything like the doctor described in the books. I'd like to see more about his spy activities in the next one.
Posted by: satex | July 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM