Wednesday, November 4

• Terminator Rights for Sale

  Producers Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek fought to keep the rights to the Terminator franchise for their Halcyon Co. production company, but The Financial Times reports that that the rights to Terminator will be auctioned off this month.

  Halcyon originally purchased the Terminator rights in 2007 for $25 million and produced a TV show, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and the movie sequel Terminator Salvation. While Chronicles was canceled, Salvation managed to gain $371 million in worldwide box office. Still Halcyon declared bankruptcy and sued their lender, Pacifcor, who Anderson and Kubicek claim pushed them into default on their loan. A bankruptcy judge allowed the producing duo to continue to develop Terminator 5, but it looks like that will come to an end once the rights are auctioned off.

  In an openly sarcastic letter to DeadlineHollywood, writer-director Joss Whedon made a bid for the Terminator rights, offering $10,000 and claiming he had solid ideas on what to do with the franchise.

  Terminator ... of the Rings! Yeah, what if he time-travelled TOO far ... back to when there was dragons and wizards? (I think it was the Dark Ages.) Hasta La Vista, Boramir! Cool, huh? "Now you gonna be Gandalf the Red!" RRRRIP! But then he totally helps, because he's a cyborg and he doesn't give a s#&% about the ring — it has no power over him! And he can carry it AND Frodo AND Sam AND f@%& up some orcs while he's doing it. This stuff just comes to me. I mean it. (I will also offer $10,000 for the Lord of the Rings franchise).

  Considering the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise just sold to Nickelodeon for $60 million, and Terminator has been a far more profitable at the box office than the Ninja Turtles, Whedon may need to bid just a few more thousands.

  
  
  

  Hollywood Headlines

  Terminator for sale and more

  Posted 11/04/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Joss Whedon | Derek Anderson | Victor Kubicek | Terminator Salvation

Monday, September 14

• Terminator Salvation Producers Avoid Losing Rights ... for Now

  Producers Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek purchased the rights to the Terminator franchise in 2007 for their Halcyon Co. production company, using a $30-million loan from hedge fund Pacifcor. Two years later, Terminator Salvation has earned $371 million worldwide, mostly overseas, while Anderson and Kubicek have filed for bankruptcy.

  But things are looking up for them. Variety reports that a bankruptcy judge has given the producers a reprieve, allowing them to continue developing Terminator 5 and other properties. The producers blame Pacificor for pushing them into default, and Anderson thinks Salvation's quick turnaround was also at fault.

  From when we heard about the possible opportunity, and the time in which we had to act, when we closed on the rights, the development of the script, to when the film was released, was such a short window. There were huge time obstacles we had to overcome. Obviously, this is the last place we thought we would be in.... But you have to deal with what's in front of you. It's been eye-opening.

  The pair are hoping not to sell the Terminator rights and Anderson claims there is plenty of interest in another Terminator:

  Victor and I are both huge Terminator fans, and we do see [Salvation] as a foundation for where we take the franchise in the future. Studios are enthusiastic. We have no regrets, all the trials and tribulations aside.

  So Terminator 5 is back on track, for the time being. Considering Salvation's mediocre reception, it's hard to determine if this is good news or not.

  
  

  Posted 09/14/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Derek Anderson | Victor Kubicek | Terminator 5 | Terminator Salvation