A third Poirot, a second “Free Guy,” another “Planet of the Apes”? Those projects and more are all in development at 20th Century Studios according to president Steve Asbell in a new interview with THR.
With all of the old pre-Disney acquisition Fox titles now out and released (bar the “Avatar” sequels), Asbell has discussed the future of the studio and how things will work in a post-COVID world where they must feed not only cinemas but also Disney’s SVOD platforms.
With the exception of a few titles, all of 20th Century Studios’ films will launch on Hulu domestically and Star+ internationally with a minimum of ten films annually scoring streaming premieres by 2023. At the same time, there will be two or three theatrical releases a year but the number there can fluctuate depending upon “whatever feels right”.
The mostly streaming strategy he says allows them to “find bold takes on beloved Fox properties” and “take big creative swings,” specifically citing Dan Trachtenberg’s upcoming 18th-century set “Predator” feature “Prey” as one example. However, one thing they have no plans to do as yet is interconnected films/TV series like Disney and Warners are doing.
He confirmed a third Kenneth Branagh Poirot film is in the works with Michael Green having already penned the script. He says: “It is a pretty daring shift in genre and in tone. It’s post-war Venice and an adaptation of one of the lesser-known novels.”
He is adamant that James Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel will stick to its late 2022 release date and says: “You’re not ready for what Jim is doing” and adds that the full force of Disney’s marketing capabilities will be behind the film.
He also says they are currently days away from receiving a script for “Free Guy 2,” while a draft for the new Wes Ball-directed “Planet of the Apes” is due shortly with the aim of filming by this Fall.
Asbell says when he started his job in early 2020, the studio was looking at a potentially smaller number of films. Now with streaming in the mix “we’re actually making more than ever” and the plan is to “remain making commercial films for a global audience”.
