As Steve Carell Movie Scrapped, Twitter Expresses Frustration With Chilled Speech
The latest casualty in the Sony cyberattack which resulted in The Interview being pulled from its Christmas Day distribution is an untitled Steve Carell movie, scrapped because, according to insiders who spoke to Deadline, it made “no sense.”
“… it just makes no sense to move forward. The location won’t be transplanted. Fox declined to distribute it.”
The Carell movie was going to be based on Guy Delisle’s graphic novel, Pyongyang. The Amazon description of the book reads as follows.
“Famously referred to as one of the ‘Axis of Evil’ countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortresslike country. While living in the nation’s capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this remarkable graphic novel. Pyongyang is an informative, personal, and accessible look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.”
Gore Verbinski of Pirates of the Caribbean fame was set to direct, according to Deadline. Production was set to begin in March.
Steve Carell has not spoken out directly about the fate of the film-to-be, although his tweet from Tuesday certainly seems relevant to the film being scrapped.
Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014
Author Neil Gaiman added a suggestion that readers could still take a look at Delisle’s graphic novel, even though the film will not be available.
If you are frustrated about The Interview or Pyongyang, may I suggest you get a copy of Guy DeLisle’s graphic novel? http://t.co/LLB3VYYuAx — Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) December 18, 2014
Fans on Twitter expressed their frustration at what they perceived as censorship and “caving” to the threats of terrorists.
Sad day when freedom of expression can be censored due to fear tactics. This can only be the beginning. #TheInterview #feareatsthesoul
— Jovany Hernandez (@jovany13) December 19, 2014
Starts with censoring art, then they come for your thoughts. If we don’t learn from history, we’re doomed to repeat it! #FearEatsTheSoul — Jim Staley (@1withtheBeard) December 19, 2014
“@SteveCarell: Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul” <- Hollywood, are you listening?
— Steve Brown (@WGRZ_SteveBrown) December 19, 2014
Tell @Sony & @SonyPictures & #RT: #freedomofspeech #feareatsthesoul #TheInterview #NorthKorea #DemocracyMatters — Adam Flensborg (@EthicsDK) December 19, 2014
Do you think Regency is doing the right thing by ending production on the movie that was to be based on Pyongyang? Tell us in the comments!
[Image from Wikimedia]
