- Title: UNITED STATES: "WATERWORLD" PREMIERES IN HOLLYWOOD
- Date: 26th July 1995
- Summary: (RTV) HOWARD KERREN, SENIOR FEATURE EDITOR, "PREMIERE" MAGAZINE SAYING THERE HAS BEEN A FEELING IN THE PRESS THAT COSTNER WAS SUCH A GOLDEN BOY AFTER DANCES WITH WOLVES THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A CHINK IN THE ARMOUR/ IF MOVIE IS GOOD, HE WON'T BE AFFECTED, BUT IF NOT, THE FACT THAT SO MUCH MONEY WAS INDULGED ON ONE STAR'S APPEAL WILL HURT HIM, AND IT'S UNLIKELY IT WILL EVER HAPPEN AGAIN (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 10th August 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK CITY AND HAWAII, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA61HRIX13SQ3RZTVDY2WTY4ANF
- Story Text: Universal Pictures premiered "Waterworld," reportedly the most expensive film ever made, at the famed Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California on Wednesday night (July 26).
Actors Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tina Majorino and Michael Jeter were on hand from the film's cast.
The film has generated a great deal of press because its budget has reportedly soared past 180 million dollars and production was plagued by on-the-set mishaps.
Costner plays Mariner, a heroic half-man/half-fish in search of dry land in a future where the Earth's polar ice caps have melted and the planet is covered in water.
The film co-stars Dennis Hopper as the evil Deacon and Jeanne Tripplehorn as a beautiful woman who accompanies Mariner on his quest.
"Waterworld" is the first major motion picture to be filmed almost entirely on water. A huge metal atoll was constructed as the main set, with divers working on the numerous underwater sequences.
Script problems and bad weather during filming in Hawaii drove production costs up, a storm damaging the atoll.
Worldwide marketing and distribution costs are expected to add between 40 and 50 million U.S. dollars to Universal Pictures' bill.
The film was directed in part by Kevin Reynolds, but then Costner replaced him before editing was completed. Reynolds reportedly walked away from the project because he was angry over requests for last-minute changes in the film's tone.
Former Universal Pictures executive Sidney Sheinberg left the studio after it was taken over by beverage giant Seagram's in June.
Work on "Waterworld" began under his control.
"With the wisdom of hindsight it would have been a lot simpler to pull the plug on this movie at say 35 million (USD) before starting it," Sheinberg said during a recent interview in Los Angeles. Sheinberg said he took responsibility for the decision to continue.
Critics have also challenged that the movie might prove to be Costner's downfall, putting him in the dangerous position of defending not only his acting, but the decision to continue filming.
Howard Kerren, the senior feature editor of "Premiere" magazine, said it was unlikely a studio would risk so much money on the appeal of one star again.
"Waterworld" opens across the U.S. on Friday (July 28), with a European premiere scheduled for August. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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