Has ballooning budget resulted in director being pulled from the editing process?
It appears that there is a bit of trouble going on behind the scenes of the Keanu Reeves top-lined Japanese epic ‘47 Ronin,’ as The Wrap is hearing word that Universal Pictures has taken over control of the editing process of the mega production after the budget ballooned past the $225 million mark.
Individuals close to the troubled project tell the trade that the film’s director, Carl Rinsch, has been replaced by Universal co-chairwoman Donna Langley, who is now overseeing the editing of the movie.
Another of THR’s sources said that Rinsch, who during preproduction “seemed creative and competent, struggled to control the filmmaking process.”
Based on one of Japan’s most legendary samurai tales, the 18th century set story follows Kai (Reeves), a half-Japanese and half-British outcast who joins “a group of Samurai, led by Kuranosuke Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), who seek vengeance on Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano), who killed their master and banished the group. The Samurai embark on a journey whose challenges would defeat most warriors”
The 3D epic recently wrapped up a series of reshoots in London in order to “boost Reeves’ presence.” His character, Kai, was apparently missing from the film’s climactic scenes, but will now take centre stage fighting against a supernatural creature.