According to Patrick Goldstein at the L.A. Times, David Fincher is in further negotiations to get the Aaron Sorkin Facebook drama scripted, “The Social Network” up and running.
Fincher is coming off “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” his most successful (and ironically, in our opinion, his worst) film to date which also earned him his first Oscar nod. That said, because of the rocky economic climate, the L.A. Times says Sony is looking for Fincher to not only reduce his usual $8 to $10 million fee, but also let go of his first dollar gross payment arrangement. We don’t think we can remember the last time a newly anointed Oscar nominee was asked to earn less on their follow-up picture, but these are strange days.
Other hints that this picture is coming together, and soon, other than the initial report that said Fincher was in “advanced talks“? One of the key producers is Michael De Luca, who recently extended his first-look deal with Sony through 2011. Some have speculated that the move is a sign that “The Social Network” is going to get a green light soon and that sounds like reasonable and intelligent thinking.
When it was first rumored that a drama was in the works about the development of Facebook, there was some sniggering among film fans who wondered what kind of story there could possibly be in the material. But if anyone can turn a dubious concept into a compelling if not financially successful film, it’s Fincher. From a serial killer who is never caught (“Zodiac”); an underground fight club that rebels against consumerism (uh, “Fight Club”) to a man who ages backward, Fincher has taken these improbable premises to intriguing places. Moreover, Fincher’s last film for Sony (where “The Social Network” now resides) was “Panic Room” which earned a solid $95 million at the box office on a budget of $48 million (not to mention grossed $196 million worldwide).
So what is going on here exactly? As you might remember, Sony very recently put the brakes on Steven Soderbergh’s “Moneyball” (while, “coincidentally,” hiring Aaron Sorkin to do a rewrite) publicly citing script concerns, but speculation ran rampant that the studio was worried that the project had limited box office potential. So this time around, is Sony making sure they are budgeting accurately and not paying out until every cent that was spent is accounted for? In our opinion, a film about the development of a social networking site has about as much mass appeal as a film about baseball statistics. The big irony, however, is that DeLuca is also one of the principal producers on “Moneyball.”
In any event, if Fincher does indeed take a pay cut at a time when his name is most valuable he must either really believe in the project or he has the worst agent ever.
Speaking of agents (and Aaron Sorkin), did anyone else catch “Entourage” on Sunday? It was like one big, gigantic Aaron Sorkin handjob. Not only did the episode center around Andrew Klein signing him, but the characters went out of their way to celebrate the former freebasing writer’s sobriety, and having Vince discover Facebook (seriously) at the end of the episode.
this is a nightmare. honestly. he goes from NESS/Torso to this? i am honestly confused and disappointed.
I wonder what Fincher Fanatic thinks? That guy would seemingly endorse a fincher project even if it was a four hour opus about paint drying.
My favorite was when he said it would sweep the oscars and then when it won only 3 tech awards, he was nowhere to be seen despite hounding the site on a daily basis if anything we wrote wasn't remotely rah rah Fincher jingoism.
This may make me like this project. 😉
i am quite a fan of david fincher. i think zodiac will go down in the history books as one of the greats and will become more revered with age. i cant think of a better one two punch from the 90's than seven and fight club. i also liked ben button alot more than you guys. that being said. this facebook project has really confused me. i mean, its out of character and seems like something jason reitman would direct. im pissed too. heres hoping he bails.
man, i thought Zodiac was a tedious snore. And RDJ really just played RDJ, i found it annoying.
i do admit one day I will give Zodiac another shot, but i saw it in theaters and while it began ok, it overstayed its welcome and became a chore. Though Sufjan Steven was as the screening I was at and surprisingly enough, he was there with girls.
another interesting fact about all this is that Fincher and Soderbergh are best friends. It was Fincher who talked Soderbergh into taking the job to help Brad.
Typical Goldstein to put out his theory but not really explain that Fincher makes that money on films that are budgeted appropriately. If Benjamin Button cost 130 million..then yes, he's going to make 6 or 8.
Social Network is budgeted under 40 million. So it's not surprising his fee would be lower.
Also remember…he's worth whatever he wants…he's one of the best directors in town. It's not like he's a DJ Caruso or Pete Berg doing this movie. He'll also be able to attract any talent he wants to the film and a reduced rate..because people are dying to work with him..that alone saves the studio millions.
Fincher has a "first dollar gross paymen arrangement"? I thought only the top Box Office directing kings like Michael Bay and Spielberg get that kind of arrangment.
You guys are too rough on Fincher. LOL.
Rod, was that fincher fan from when Button came out the actual "Fincher Fanatic," as in the guy who runs that web site?
Anyway, it seems to me that the issue holding up greenlighting this project is Fincher's fee, whatever that might be. They were clearly in deep negotiations with him when Kevin Spacey (and don't forget Spacey's connections with Fincher) was all giddy about the impending announcement. Also, I think it's clear that SONY really wants this too. Amy Pascal DOES NOT want to fuck up another A-List movie deal at the finish line again.
So it has to be the fee and I'm guessing they'll settle it closer to Fincher's negotiating point than Sony's.
Anonymous10:31,
I definitely prefered Torso as well, but that film didn't even have a studio much less a greenlight.
Maybe Fincher sees this as an easy film to do. Not as painstaking as Button or some of the others.
#@BNJ
"Maybe Fincher sees this as an easy film to do. Not as painstaking as Button or some of the others."
Agreed. Smaller budget, smaller scale, this is what you need to do right now if you want to actually work.
But the more ambitious/passion projects on the shelf for now or you're just headed for major head and heartache.
#@BNJ Not sure which Fincher fanatic it was, but he was pretty funny.
I have a feeling Fincher is afraid of not being in control. Although Zodiac is his greatest, I find Se7en is the one that challenged him the most, to the point where he couldn't provide a worthy ending
The other interesting part of this film coming together is that there are no details on potential leads yet. Given that it appear its Fincher's salary that is the sticking point, I'm guessing they are not looking at expensive names for this one.
So, a film about Facebook with B-list stars? Sounds like a box office hit!