Producer Thinks ‘Annihilation’ Is “Too Intellectual” For Audiences

There are few filmmakers who enjoy the test screening process. Particularly for blockbusters, it’s hard to understand the value of showing an unfinished movie, with incomplete effects, to a group of random strangers pulled off the street, and then soliciting their feedback. However, studios value the process because it can shine a light on how Joe Average might respond to the picture, or shine a light on how to market the movie. In the case of Alex Garland‘s “Annihilation,” it sent two producers to war.

Earlier this week, a surprise deal between Paramount and Netflix was revealed, with the streaming giant taking the international rights to “Annihilation,” where it will debut on the service 17 days after it opens in the U.S. In fact, only the U.S., Canada and China will get a theatrical release of Garland’s new movie. The decision raised plenty of eyebrows, and suggested that the studio was trying to minimize financial risk on the ambitious, mid-budget movie. Outside of Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, the film doesn’t feature blockbuster, A-list stars (and even that pair haven’t really opened anything on “Star Wars” scale beyond that franchise), and coupled with a brainy post-apocalyptic premise, it’s not an easy sell. In fact, the film’s smarts was worrying to some producers on the film.

THR reports that David Ellison, the head of Skydance Productions, was worried about poor test screening results this summer for “Annihilation,” and was concerned that the film was “too intellectual” and “too complicated” for audiences. As a result, he wanted Garland to make changes to the ending of the movie, and craft a more sympathetic portrayal of Portman’s character. However, the film’s co-producer Scott Rudin (“No Country For Old Men,” “The Social Network,” “Lady Bird“) wasn’t having it. The auteur friendly Oscar winner backed Garland, and played his trump card of having final cut on the movie. Caught in the crossfire was Paramount, who decided to find a distributing partner for the movie, and landed with Netflix, who as part of the deal, will front half of the film’s $55 million budget.

It’s always amazing to me that producers often don’t know understand the filmmakers they’re getting into bed with. Given Alex Garland’s track record (“Ex Machina,” “Sunshine,” “Never Let Me Go“) is it a huge shock he crafted a movie that’s — *gasp* — “intellectual” and perhaps something different from your standard blockbuster fare?

So, credit to Rudin for sticking with Garland and allowing him to make the movie he intended. As for Ellison, he’s coming off a year where he ushered “Baywatch” and “Geostorm” into cinemas….

“Annihilation” opens on Febraury 23, 2018.