All three previous Men in Black films opened to at least $50 million or more domestically, however the soft reboot of the franchise starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson opened to a tepid $30 million.
On paper, it seemed like a surefire hit, with Hemsworth and Thompson coming off their course-correcting efforts to right the Thor franchise and scene-stealing performances in the record-setting two-part Avengers epic. Director F. Gary Gray had just delivered a $1.1 billion grossing Fast and Furious installment in 2017 after helming the under appreciated NWA biopic Straight Out of Compton.
Again, it definitely looked as if Sony had put together a winning team. However, a new report states that tension between Gray and the film's producer, along with multiple script rewrites, led to the project's downfall.
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CLASH BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
It seems the exit of Sony Executive Vice-President Of Production David Beaubaire opened the door for a tug-of-war between director F. Gary Gray and producer Walter Parkes, who helped make the first 3 MIB films. Parkes would be heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the film according to THR, which resulted in confusion and uncertainty.
MULTIPLE SCRIPT REWRITES
Industry insiders told THR that a studio wouldn't be able to sign the likes of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson without a stellar script. Prior to shooting, the script was said to be edgier and more modern with a story that tied back to the real-world issue of immigration.
It seems that tone didn't sit well with Parkes, who had multiple script rewrites commissioned before and during filming. The script was in so much turmoil that Hemsworth and Thompson hired their own dialogue writers to keep up with all the changes.
F. GARY GRAY WANTED OFF THE PROJECT
Parkes ultimately had final cut on the film and in addition to rewriting the script, actually stepped behind the camera on multiple occasions. This angered Gary Gray to the point that he wanted to walk away from the project, but was ultimately convinced to stay on by Sony.
LACK OF MEDIATION BY SONY
The studio was an absentee landlord. They were nowhere to be found," one source told THR. It seems Sony had very little investment in the $110 million project as multiple outside co-financiers were brought in early. Sony also kept marketing costs for the film in the lower tier.
TEST SCREENING
In the end, F. Gary Gray assembled his own cut of the film and Walter Parkes produced his own edit. Both versions were screened for test audiences and it seems the studio chose Parkes version simply because he held final cut rights.