Another one bites the dust…

In the wake of yesterday’s announcement that they were pulling the plug on The Interview, canceling its December 25 premiere, another film set in North Korea has gotten the axe. Steve Carell was set to team with director Gore Verbinksi to make Pyongyang. The film was to be based off of Guy Delisle’s “Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea,” a graphic novel released in 2007.

Here’s what the book was about:

“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.”

[Courtesy of Amazon]

The film was to be distributed by Fox, who have now decided to back away from the project. Verbinski has all ready put out a statement on the situation:

“Getting the facts straight:
Yesterday, I was told by New Regency and Fox that Fox will no longer be distributing the film. Prior to that, the film was green lit and fully funded by New Regency with Fox distributing. I have been told in no uncertain words that based on the situation at Sony, Fox has now decided to not distribute the film. Without a distributor, New Regency was forced to shut the film down.

 My thoughts:

I find it ironic that fear is eliminating the possibility to tell stories that depict our ability to overcome fear.“

As for Carell, the actor took to twitter yesterday with this simple response to what’s going on:

He followed that up by tweeting a picture of Charlie Chaplin from his 1940 film, The Great Dictator.

These are certainly turbulent times in Tinseltown. One has to wonder how they’re going to climb out of this hole after this unprecedented kowtow to radical demands. 

SOURCE: Deadline / The Wrap / Twitter