Another 'Valkyrie' Film to Challenge Cruise Film Prospects
Filed under: Action, Casting, Deals, New Releases, Cannes, Celebrities and Controversy, Box Office, Distribution, The Weinstein Co., Tom Cruise, Movie Marketing
When two movies with similar plots hit theaters around the same time, it usually just reveals the vapidity of Hollywood formula (as was the case when Deep Impact and Armageddon came out a few months apart). The situation changes, however, when the subject matter has far more thematic weight. Defamer's S.T. VanAirsdale points out the potential conflict brewing now that The Weinstein Company has picked up U.S. theatrical, DVD and television rights to the 2004 German film Operation Valykrie, a dramatization of the failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hilter during World War II. Sound familiar? That's because Bryan Singer's upcoming 2009 release, Valkyrie, tells precisely the same story, with Tom Cruise in the role of would-be assassin Col. Claus Von Stauffenberg. In the German movie, the character is played by Sebastian Koch, the debonair star of The Lives of Others and Paul Verhoeven's Black Book. In addition to the overlapping content, VanAirsdale points out another potential conflict: Koch's female co-star in Black Book, the alluring Carice van Houten, stars opposite Cruise in Valkyrie, creating the sort of meaty overlap that money can buy. Harvey Weinstein's no slouch when it comes to instigating controversy, but his company hasn't exactly had the best of luck with its recent daring titles (few turned out for Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?). Personal drama has impacted Cruise's films before, but this might be the rare case where he would have nothing to do with it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-28-2008 @ 9:16PM
DaveTehWave said...
Just this subject to the long list of Hollywood copies.
1492/Christopher Columbus
Tombstone/Wyatt Earp
Dante's Peak/Volcano
Armageddon/Deep Impact
The Cave/The Descent/The Cavern
Reply
5-28-2008 @ 9:17PM
DaveTehWave said...
I forgot to say... I hate (yes hate) when Hollywood is so unoriginal... they're supposed to be the creative ones!
5-29-2008 @ 2:31AM
Gary said...
You do know however that The Descent is not Hollywood and was made long before The Cave, so maybe that should have been first.
5-29-2008 @ 1:04AM
Vi said...
Ive seen the old Valkyrie movie too German accent and all and it wasnt that good. Cruise movie seems more interesting. I read in Empire magazine they filmed March at the Ca.desert and Hollywood Reporter said they are filming more scenes next month.
Reply
5-29-2008 @ 2:19AM
V.M.L. said...
I rather watch Koch than Cruise, I'll tell you.
Reply
5-29-2008 @ 10:28AM
mwillmott said...
Turner & Hooch / K-9
Deep Star Six / Leviathan / The Abyss . . .
Reply