In yet another sad display of Hollywood's repulsive fetish for placing profit above all other concerns it was announced yesterday that Andy Garcia, John Cleese, Alfred Molina and Aishwarya Rai will be joining Steve Martin in Columbia Pictures/MGM's avarice-driven sequel "The Pink Panther 2." Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer will also reprise their roles.
The sequel was announced in March 2006 and is due for release on Feb. 13, 2009. Harald Zwart, best known for “Agent Cody Banks," is taking over Directing duties from Shawn Levy. Robert Simonds is producing; Ira Shuman will serve as the Exec Producer.
The singular Mr. John Cleese will play Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Garcia, Molina and Rai have signed on as Detectives and experts who join forces with Clouseau to catch a thief who's been stealing artifacts all over the world.
In a telling footnote to the press release, Columbia / MGM mention that Steve Martin's original outing as the lovably inept Detective so indelibly and perfectly defined by Peter Sellers earned them over $140 million worldwide. This, apparently, is adequate cause to justify the production of a movie whose single and unequivocal reason for existence is to exploit and profit from the legacy of a performer whose shoes Mr. Martin is too untalented to polish.
Could someone please enlighten the Hollywood suits that when a character has been as expertly crafted and made the focus of immense public affection as this one was by Peter, once that Actor passes, common decency requires that this should also be the end of that character's usage?
For once, gentlemen, at least try to ignore your incessant lust for profits, and show some respect!
The sequel was announced in March 2006 and is due for release on Feb. 13, 2009. Harald Zwart, best known for “Agent Cody Banks," is taking over Directing duties from Shawn Levy. Robert Simonds is producing; Ira Shuman will serve as the Exec Producer.
The singular Mr. John Cleese will play Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Garcia, Molina and Rai have signed on as Detectives and experts who join forces with Clouseau to catch a thief who's been stealing artifacts all over the world.
In a telling footnote to the press release, Columbia / MGM mention that Steve Martin's original outing as the lovably inept Detective so indelibly and perfectly defined by Peter Sellers earned them over $140 million worldwide. This, apparently, is adequate cause to justify the production of a movie whose single and unequivocal reason for existence is to exploit and profit from the legacy of a performer whose shoes Mr. Martin is too untalented to polish.
Could someone please enlighten the Hollywood suits that when a character has been as expertly crafted and made the focus of immense public affection as this one was by Peter, once that Actor passes, common decency requires that this should also be the end of that character's usage?
For once, gentlemen, at least try to ignore your incessant lust for profits, and show some respect!
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