fans Fletcher Franchisees may need to console themselves with a steak sandwich or two.
Greg Mottola, directing 2022 drama film Frankly, Fletch, took to social media to give an update on his planned sequel, starring Jon Hamm as Owen “Fletch” Fletcher. Mottola’s film, from Miramax, reprises the character from author Gregory Macdonald’s series of novels, memorably played by Chevy Chase in the 1985 comedy Fletcher and a sequel four years later.
Film critic Bilge Ebiri tweeted this week on X (formerly Twitter) that Hollywood should make more Fletcher movie, Mottola points to his sequel Frankly, Fletch No longer in development, the director attributed the setback to a change in leadership at Miramax. then Frankly, Fletch After the release, Mottola said in an interview that he had been hired to write a sequel based on Macdonald’s 1978 novel Fletcher’s fortune This is set in the press.
“Alas, the new head of Miramax, who controls the rights to all the books, vetoed my sequel project,” replied Mottola, also known for his helmsmanship. very bad. “this Fletcher The curse took hold of me.
He continued, “I was told ‘the first one loses money’ – it’s like someone is trying to make money. Jon [Hamm] Really enjoyed the new script. I’m pretty frustrated by this, but it’s hard to expect a good breakout in the featured world these days.
Miramax is currently led by CEO Jonathan Glickman, who took over the role after Bill Block exited late last year, a shift that, according to Mottola, Damaging the prospects for a sequel. “It’s unfortunate for me that Bill Bullock was fired,” Mottola posted. The director also wrote: “I was caught in a changing of the guard situation and my comedy was too dry and heartless for its new owners.”
After a social media user pointed out the film’s poor box office performance, Mottola agreed but said he didn’t appreciate the marketing strategy. “Yes, but they played it in theaters for a week with almost no marketing and then put it on Showtime (without billboards or ads),” Mottola wrote. “This is essentially a streaming movie.” He also lamented that “comedies are having a hard time.”
A source familiar with the situation revealed hollywood reporter Miramax offered the filmmakers the chance to shoot the sequel elsewhere. The purchase window for this item has now expired.
ham told THR He’s set to reprise the role this spring, but admits the prospects aren’t promising. The focus is on the actor’s character being accused of murder while trying to find a missing piece of art, Frankly, Fletch Co-starring John Slattery, Roy Wood Jr., and Marcia Gay Harden.
“We’re trying to make another one, but it’s difficult,” Hamm explained. “The movie didn’t break box office records, but that doesn’t mean anything.” When asked if there was a script for the sequel, he added: “Yes, there are 10 books, and we’d say, ‘Here’s the roadmap. .Can we follow?