There are many people who felt as though Star Trek Into Darkness was … for a lack of better term a “shit show”. While I left the theater more conflicted than anything after viewing JJ Abrams’ second Trek outing, I definitely wanted to see more Star Trek.
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With Abrams departing the United Federation of Planets for a galaxy far far away, the status of the franchise was left in flux. Late last week it was reported that director Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) was Paramount’s top choice to replace Abrams in the captain’s chair for the third Abramsverse/NuTrek outing.
And this week Hollywood Reporter ran a story about how studios in general, not just Paramount are weary of the $200 million tentpole picture. Star Trek Into Darkness was budgeted at $190 million which made $452 million at the box office, which in terms of Hollywood is a small profit margin.
Paramount also will look to save money on another Star Trek — a franchise, but not quite in the top tier. This summer’s $190 million production Star Trek Into Darkness has earned over $462 million worldwide; its international haul has exceeded expectations at $234 million, but domestically, its $228.5 million hasn’t matched the first film. Whereas the first two were shot in L.A., the next will be filmed in a more tax-friendly location. “We’re making it for what it should have been shot for last time if we had made it outside of L.A., which we would have done except that [director J.J. Abrams] didn’t want to,” says a studio source. “That was a $20 million issue.”
With Abrams’ off the picture it may actually save Paramount money as it it well documented that he refused to shoot outside the United States (specifically Los Angeles) on both Star Trek films. There was even rumors that he was leaving Star Wars VII due to script/scheduling conflicts as well as having to relocate to London (however I chalk that one up to Internet rumor mongering).
When studios are lining up summer tentpole films that are huge CGI spectacles it is all about the bottom line. Shooting in tax friendly locations outside of California (and the United States) is a common practice that helps stretch the production dollar that much further. With Abrams’ out of the director’s chair, Paramount may find it that much easier to save money on Star Trek III: The Search for Vancouver.
