Screenwriter Stu Zicherman On The Disappointing ELEKTRA

Screenwriter Stu Zicherman On The Disappointing ELEKTRA

Zicherman doesn't mince words on how Elektra turned out less than stellar. "I spent a year writing the movie, and it was supposed to be this gigantic movie and then they decide they're not going to make an $80M movie they're going to make a $30M movie, they bring in a director we didn't know..."

By MarkJulian - Jan 30, 2013 01:01 PM EST
Filed Under: Elektra
Source: BA Digest





"Elektra is one of the reasons I got into television. I spent a year writing the movie, and it was supposed to be this gigantic movie and then they decide they're not going to make an $80M movie they're going to make a $30M movie, they bring in a director we didn't know, you get fired, someone else comes in and rewrites the entire movie but you still get credit because you wrote the first draft. Then you go to the premiere in Las Vegas and 30-seconds into the movie you're like oh, [frick]. I literally, to this day, am still so embarrassed by that movie. I probably shouldn't say this but I know Jennifer Garner is too. She hired us to write the movie which was pitched as something much more smart and sophisticated....it's a blemish. "

Combined with marketing, 2005's Elektra had a $43M budget and earned $56.7M woldwide at the box office. It would've been interesting to hear what exactly was in the original $80M vision as Elektra is a character that could've spearheaded a wave of superhero females centered around female leads. Last fall, Daredevil rights reverted back to Marvel but Elektra remains with Fox.




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MrLoki
MrLoki - 1/30/2013, 2:17 PM
I actually loved it, it was a great movie!
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/30/2013, 2:22 PM
great movie my arse,it was a terrible.
Luminus
Luminus - 1/30/2013, 2:25 PM
Almost as bad as Ghost Rider.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 1/30/2013, 2:35 PM
It was pants, BUT Garner was pretty good. I think in a much better movie she'd have made a great Elektra.
RGINLA
RGINLA - 1/30/2013, 2:36 PM
#1 Should NOT had messed with her outfit!!!
WawelDragon
WawelDragon - 1/30/2013, 2:40 PM
Levi, I think they have year more than for Daredevil
poop23
poop23 - 1/30/2013, 2:41 PM
Not a good movie
Tomontherun99
Tomontherun99 - 1/30/2013, 2:44 PM
@Jollem Sounds about right,could also be applied to Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, all 4 Spider-man movies and X-Men because of course Marvel can do no wrong and every other studio that owns a Marvel property is Satan incarnate :P
13echo
13echo - 1/30/2013, 2:45 PM
Don't feel bad it wasn't as awful as spider man 3 blade 3 xmen 3 and both fantastic four movies....
jimpinto24
jimpinto24 - 1/30/2013, 2:58 PM
Eletra was not a bad film. I liked it a lot.
ATrueHero1987
ATrueHero1987 - 1/30/2013, 2:59 PM
Trust, Elektra is back with Marvel.

Movies like Elektra can set CBM back.
Drewbee87
Drewbee87 - 1/30/2013, 3:01 PM
I liked it, I liked it so much I recently upgraded my DVD to Blu-ray....
BlueDemon
BlueDemon - 1/30/2013, 3:02 PM
Meh, I know a lot of chicks that liked it. So maybe you need a vagina to appreciate this film
DRMidNite
DRMidNite - 1/30/2013, 3:02 PM
Awful film.
skidz
skidz - 1/30/2013, 3:05 PM
I loved Daredevil (Yeah, it's far from perfect. The directors cut's better), I think Marvel should approach Affleck about DD again. Just to write and/or direct it if he doesn't what to be in front of the camera. Then he'd be able to make the movie he wishes had been made. After seeing The Town, I think he'd have a damn good view of the character.

Anybody else with me?

You could tell Garner wasn't having nearly as much fun with the solo effort as she did playing off of her husband-to-be.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GraphicCity/news/?a=73521#UvyIkjDt0D0Vu3Qt.99
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 1/30/2013, 3:07 PM
It literally bored me to sleep.
Durf
Durf - 1/30/2013, 3:10 PM
I'm with @Ror on this. She could have made at least a decent Elektra in a better movie. But this movie was just utter shit. Shame, since I did really like Daredevil
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 1/30/2013, 3:10 PM
ALL THE REPORTS FROM THE TRADITIONAL TRADES SAID MARVEL GOT DAREDEVIL BUT NOT ELEKTRA!
xRelentlessx
xRelentlessx - 1/30/2013, 3:13 PM
As a huge Elektra fan, I actually felt so heartbroken after leaving the theater after watching it. It was so painfully bad....But I'm off to film school! >:D
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 1/30/2013, 3:17 PM
Kingpin was on loan to Fox for Daredevil.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=62815
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 1/30/2013, 3:23 PM
@Levi Trades said they didn't. Won't know for sure till someone asks Feige about the deal. Surprised they haven't already.
Greengo
Greengo - 1/30/2013, 3:28 PM
"Kingping" lmao : )
xRelentlessx
xRelentlessx - 1/30/2013, 3:46 PM
@MARVELPSYCHO79 Actually it's been 8 years since Jan 14th 2005.
Bodwulf
Bodwulf - 1/30/2013, 4:17 PM
Lisa Lyon is Electra photo LisaLyonsElectra.jpg
xRelentlessx
xRelentlessx - 1/30/2013, 4:23 PM
Jen was terribly miscast in my opinion ^
slimybug
slimybug - 1/30/2013, 4:58 PM
He talks about Jennifer Garner being disappointing with how the whole movie turned out, but the first and foremost problem with the film is her being in the role.

No disrespect to JG, who I love But I love Chris Rock, and I wouldn't cast him as Superman.


@Skidz, I partially agree with you. I loved Daredevil when I first saw it, and the directors cut is better, but I've converted in recent years and consider it unforgivable as a film. However, Ben Affleck I will defend until the day I die.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 1/30/2013, 5:03 PM
Bodwulf -that´s truth, Frank Miller always denies his obvious influences.
ricko8687
ricko8687 - 1/30/2013, 6:07 PM
Elektra was not as bad as everyone make it out to be but when I saw it it looked like a made for TV movie . I thought Jennifer Garner was the right person to play the role and I really liked the mysticism involved in the plot but for some reason it didn't click with the audience. Now that daredevil is back with marvel maybe Electra will revert back also and marvel can kick off their Marvel Knights lineup
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 1/30/2013, 6:22 PM
The movie was horrendous. But it sounds like it wasn't his fault and I think that in this case I sort of buy it.

We've heard lame excuses from assholes like Tim Story, and Brett Ratner, but this doesn't seem like that at all. It has the ring of truth
Bread
Bread - 1/30/2013, 6:53 PM
I don't know how that movie made it to the screen. It was one of the worst things that I've ever seen in my life.
xRelentlessx
xRelentlessx - 1/30/2013, 7:33 PM
^ And?......
Logan5
Logan5 - 1/30/2013, 11:56 PM
Movie was shit.
Logan5
Logan5 - 1/31/2013, 12:27 AM
CBM, Chud(Ren is young, but knows his shit technically and has "real world" cred.., I'll let you de-cypher), Collider, Latino Review, Moviehole(because they report without b.s.) & AICN(years ago.., basically habit & respect). These are the sites that are non-affiliated and are worth your time.

p.s.- Joblo was over in '08.
Logan5
Logan5 - 1/31/2013, 12:28 AM
@Durty

Yeah.., okay.
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