The production of Alex Proyas’ adaptation of John Milton’s epic 17th-century poem, Paradise Lost, has been rolling right along with casting falling into place. Last week, we brought you news straight from star Bradley Cooper, who will play the fallen archangel Lucifer, on how his performance was to be captured through a motion-capture system, evolved from the technology used in James Cameron’s Avatar. But this high-tech system and the price of this epic film’s use of special effects is behind this latest news on the film.
Deadline reports that Legendary Pictures has put the brakes on the production of Paradise Lost. While this news sounds ominous, sources say that this does not mean that the project is being terminated. Legendary’s Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and producer Vincent Newman will be re-assessing the budget on the film to try to wrangle it down from its sizable $120 million price tag. The amount of green screen and VFX for the original vision of Paradise Lost made the budget for the production look “unwieldy.”
Legendary is now aiming for a start date of late spring or early summer of 2012. No word yet if there will be casting changes or a push in release date due to this postponement.
Paradise Lost stars Bradley Cooper, Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Djimon Hounsou, Casey Affleck, Callan McAuliffe, Dominic Purcell, Sam Reid, Diego Boneta and Camilla Belle.
Synopsis:
Lucifer (Bradley Cooper) and Michael (Benjamin Walker), God’s greatest archangels, share the bond of extraordinary friendship until God produces his greatest creation: Man. Unable to remain subservient to God if it means bowing down to humanity, Lucifer begins his dark descent and is cast out – only to plot his revenge.
Paradise Lost is slated to hit theaters in 2013.
