Oh, those contractual obligations.
Just last week it was reported that SAW VI director and longtime editor of the SAW movies, Kevin Greutert, would be jumping off the Lionsgate and climbing aboard with Paramount to helm the Paranormal Activity sequel, and that the two films would be going head to head at the October 22, 2010 box office.
If you thought it seemed too odd to be true, it seems you were right. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Lionsgate and partners, the aptly named Twisted Pictures, have called Greutert back on his contractual obligations to direct SAW VII a.k.a. SAW 3D.
Deadline says this happened just 2 weeks before shooting starts, that the goal was to block Paramount and that Twisted Pictures, which holds an option on Greutert, bumped previously announced SAW 3D director David Hackl (who directed SAW V) to make it happen. Both directors have been involved with the SAW films since the beginning.
Meanwhile, it seems Greutert is not thrilled with the situation and DenOfGeek.com reports that he has been airing his grievances on his website. At last check, the posts were not available or had been taken down, but Den Of Geek says Greutert posted a statement that reads:
“I’m in the middle of something really terrible right now, as anyone who has come to this site probably knows. While I fight for justice in this, the important thing is to avoid giving in to hatred and anger, because these emotions are life killers.
“Hopefully we will all arrive at an amicable solution. Thank you to everyone who is working with me on this.
Kevin”
After that post was removed, he reportedly wrote:
“I just had the task of telling my 83 year old mother that no, I’m not going to be allowed to direct the movie we were all so excited about when my family last got together, and that I’m being forced to leave town before getting a chance to see her again. Yes, I’ll be filming people getting tortured YET AGAIN. So we’ll have to put off me making a film she can actually watch for another year.
I’m not making this sh*t up.”
One might wonder why Greutert has decided to develop a sudden aversion to torture after working on six previous SAW movies over six years.
The rivalry between the studios, Paramount and Lionsgate, began when sleeper hit Paranormal Activity crept up and crushed SAW VI at the 2009 box office on its way to a $150 million worldwide gross on a $15,000 budget.