Production on Alex Proyas

Tale of good vs. evil is not cancelled, just delayed.

According to Deadline, Legendary Pictures has decided delay the production start date on Alex Proyas’s epic sized adaptation of John Milton’s 17-century poem ‘Paradise Lost.’

The effects heavy adaptation was set to kick off production in Australia early next year with a cast that includes Bradley Cooper, Benjamin Walker, Casey Affleck, Dijmon Hounsou, Camilla Belle and Diego Boneta.

Now producers Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Vincent Newman will continue developing the project to rework the budget which has passed the $120 million mark by 10-15%. The plan is to have the costs reworked in time for a late spring or early summer shoot.

The process is likened to that of the recent troubles that faced Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger,’ which also had its production start date halted in order to reduce its runaway budget. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski brought down the costs of ‘The Lone Ranger’ with changes to the script along with adjustments to Johnny Depp’s paycheck.

Universal’s adaptations of ‘The Dark Tower’ and ‘At the Mountains of Madness’ also had troubles with their budgets. Both projects are now dead in the water.