Angelina Jolie’s directorial project, By the Sea, starring her and her then-husband, was a gamble for Universal. A gamble which did not work in their favor. The story revolved around a couple facing problems in their marriage and how they navigated through it. While many believed that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s names being attached to the film was enough to rake big bucks, it, unfortunately, did not happen.
So why did Universal back By the Sea, when they knew they were taking a risky chance? Well, the studios might be going for the classic approach of ‘One for me, one for you.’ Something similar happened with Warner Bros. when they green-lit Sandra Bullock’s Our Brand Is Crisis. Both the studios were hoping to get the lead actresses to star in another film with them. However, things worked out in WB’s favor and not so much in Universal’s.
Angelina Jolie Ditched Universal
Made with a budget of $10 million, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s By the Sea was only able to make a little over $3 million at the box office, bringing a loss to Universal. Apart from that, the film received mixed to average reviews from fans as well as from critics.
According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Universal took a gamble on By the Sea because they were hoping to get Jolie to star in either Bride of Frankenstein or Wanted 2 as a favor. However, for whatever reason, neither of the films happened. As for Jolie, whose Wanted character died in the film, she had already made up her mind. Should there be a sequel, she was not going to be a part of it.
Jolie told Coming Soon,
“Being dead makes it difficult. They were [trying to bring me back] but I kind of feel like if I die in a movie, I should die actually. I’m that way. And that character is not as complex as Salt. It would just be doing the exact same thing in a different movie, so it’s not that interesting to me.”
Well, looks like Universal’s plans ended up being no good. On the other hand, Warner Bros. took a win with their gamble on Sandra Bullock’s Our Brand Is Crisis.
WB Gamble with Sandra Bullock’s Our Brand Is Crisis
Directed by Gary Ross and produced by George Clooney, Our Brand Is Crisis cost a total of $28 million to make. Unfortunately, making absolutely no profits, the movie ended its box office run with just $8.6 million in the bank. However, Bullock was able to bring the studio its lost money with Ocean’s Eleven.
Warner Bros. was trying to get Bullock to sign up for the female-led reboot of Ocean’s Eleven. Bullock agreed and the film made almost $300 million at the box office on just a budget of $70 million. The film was also nominated for a few Teen Choice Awards and People Choice Awards.
Clearly, both Universal and Warner Bros. decided to take a gamble on By the Sea and Our Brand Is Crisis, respectively. The only difference is that Warner Bros.’s risk paid off eventually and on the other hand, Universal ended up getting the short end of the stick.
Both By the Sea and Ocean’s 8 are available to rent/buy on Prime Video.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
