Richard Kelly’s latest project “The Box,” which stars James Marden, and Cameron Diaz as a yuppie couple who receive, via a creepy old man (played by Frank Langella), a strange box that posses a button, that when pressed, will automatically grant the couple $1 million, with the catch being that simultaneously an innocent person they do not know will die, is looking as though it is in jeopardy of being of not being released sometime this decade.
The film was shot way back in 2007 and was originally slated for a September of 09′ release date, then was set to be released this March, but through some shuffling around the film has recently been pushed back to November 11th of 2009, which will mark nearly two years since the beginning of principal photography. It probably will come out this fall, but it’s been a curious life so far.
Obviously, this causes some concern since shuffling of release dates usually means the studio is anything but confident about the film’s earning potential. “The Box” marks Kelly’s first project since the critical bomb that was “Southland Tales.” The most disturbing thing about this? The worry that we may never get to hear Arcade Fire’s “Bernard Hermann on Acid” score.
Another film that is currently having trouble finding itself a confirmed release date is Katheryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker,” that has been garnering critical acclaim on the film festival circuit, has yet to get a release date from Summit Entertainment in spite of the praise.
The film is rumored to be being dumped in the summer of 09′ season, instead of the awards season it apparently deserves, though nothing has yet to be confirmed. The picture is playing at SXSW and at a one-off in New York in March, bt still no concrete date, what gives? Is the dreaded “Iraq war film” curse that has them nervous? Footage will also be shown at this weekend’s New York Comiccon.