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Author Topic: Futurama's Future  (Read 1114 times)
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Code Green

Delivery Boy
**
« on: 04-30-2002 21:19 »

I know that with all of the recent news about Futurama being cancelled and all that that we don't know for sure what will become of Futurama, but I was just wondering what you all think is going to happen?

I think that next year FOX will air the remaining episodes of Futurama and then they are going to cancel it flat out and not care what anyone else thinks. Then, I think Matt Groening and the Futurama crew are going to try to get 20th Century Fox or some movie company to sponsor them so they can make a Futurama Movie. I know this may sound depressing, but come on, FOX hates Futurama flat out. They would cancel it in a heart beat.
Mr. Potter

Professor
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« Reply #1 on: 04-30-2002 22:17 »

I really don't think they will make a movie. I believe that Matt is gonna look for another network and if that does´nt work I think it will be the end(hopefully not). Maybe they can try to keep doing comics and maybe release them every month.
noone
Crustacean
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« Reply #2 on: 04-30-2002 22:58 »

Barring an unexpected raitings spike (or management shakeup), Fox will show all of the remaining episodes and then let the show end. Mr. Groening will probably pitch the show to the UPN the WB network, or the Science-Fiction Network. If there are no takers, he will probably try to get a movie made.  Fox actually might greenlight a Futurama movie because Hollywood is running out of ideas and the division that makes movies is run by different people. The movie is a longshot, but if the budget is low enough, a Futurama movie could generate at least $20 million in box office revenue.
Mr. Potter

Professor
*
« Reply #3 on: 04-30-2002 23:56 »

I've made my calculations and by the amount of people that watch the show I believe it can make something like 40 millions in box office
Damitol

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #4 on: 05-01-2002 13:13 »
« Last Edit on: 05-01-2002 13:13 »

Sadly noone - there is no such thing as a "low budget" full length animated movie.  Ice Age, Fox's foray into CGI cost about $95M in production and marketing costs, while Monsters Inc. was closer to $165M.  Since distributors and theater owners generally split the box office 50/50, a film needs to make at least twice it's total cost (three times its production cost, which is generally all you hear about in the press) to break even.  And if key players have back end deals where they get a piece of the gross - as Matt Groening certainly and deservedly would - now you are up to over twice. 

So - given that Futurama only uses partial CGI and no money would be needed to develop the characters, a "modest" budget for such an undertaking would still be well north of $40M, meaning that the movie would need to make back close to $100M to break even.  A good estimator of the cost may be how much the new Dreamworks film "Spirit", which is a 2D/3D mix, ends up costing.

Now the truth of the matter is that very, very few films break even, and rely on things like cable, video and foriegn distribution rights to make up the difference, some or all of which are many times sold up front to finance the film in the first place.

I guess my point here is that the chance of Fox or anyone else taking a risk on a 90 minute film of a low rated TV show is slim to none.  Unless the show does a *huge* turnaround on Fox or another network (and Fox is doing everything it can to prevent that from happening for some reason), there will not be a movie.

The best hope for a future(ama) is for another broadcast network (who are universally shying away from animation save Fox) or cable channel to figure out that having a Matt Groening show in their line up would be a good thing.  The question is whether Comedy Central or Sci-Fi have the budget to make it worth Groening's time.
Otis P Jivefunk

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #5 on: 05-01-2002 14:28 »

The cost of taking it on is a big problem, I'm sure other networks such as the Sci-Fi channel would jump at the chance, but the costs will make them think twice. I'm still optimistic that come February 2003, when Fox will probably decide not to order another Season, Groening will try his hardest to find another network to buy it. The production team will be mostly different, but it would still have plenty of potential. The movies would probably follow at the end of the TV show, which would depend on the success it had with a new network.
Erdrik

Professor
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« Reply #6 on: 05-01-2002 14:34 »

What about Cartoon Network? Firstly Cartoon Network runs and 'Adult Swim' block and Futurama would fit in nicly there  ;)
Secondly The Shows on CN are treated great(As far as I know)
Third CN's advertisments are exellent! Could you imagine the ads for futurama that could be created on that Network! hee hee! which would obviously be more ad time than Fox gives  :p

I think CN would be a great choice. That or SciFi.

...
McGrady

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #7 on: 05-01-2002 20:01 »

Damitol: those movies cost so much because they were high quality CGI with hundreds of animators working on it; making a movie for futurama could in fact be cheap if they keep the budget around what they used to.  Three to four episodes in length isn't going to cost $50 million (if it is, I couldn't blame fox is freakin')
BrainSluggo

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #8 on: 05-01-2002 20:50 »

CartoonNetwork seems to have faith that The PowerPuff Girls can scratch up a swift buck at the box, and as Erdrik pointed out, they create excellent ad campaigns. They could easily make Futurama audience-accessible again--creating demand for a movie or three. (Check out the trailer! I didn't think I was possible to make such a good one for PPG!)

(The movies wouldn't have to be theatrical releases, although that would be wonderful. Straight-to-video works too.)
Erdrik

Professor
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« Reply #9 on: 05-01-2002 22:24 »
« Last Edit on: 05-01-2002 22:24 »

   
Quote
Originally posted by BrainSluggo:
CartoonNetwork seems to have faith that The PowerPuff Girls can scratch up a swift buck at the box, and as Erdrik pointed out, they create excellent ad campaigns. They could easily make Futurama audience-accessible again--creating demand for a movie or three.

Yeah! You know the ad where WonderWoman and AquaMan are captured by the DOOM-whatevers and the PPG bust in and beat the snot out of the villians? Damn! I about bust my lung first time I saw that! lol    :laff:     :laff:

/EDIT
I could defenitly see a Johny Brovo/Futurama Crossover Ad! lol Leela beats the snot out of Johny! lol Or the PPGs zap Cubert! hee hee

I thought I read somewhere that the animaters from Rough Draft Studios were going on to do a project at Cartoon Network.. so If Matt went to CN then He would have a better chance at getting the original Animaters back! 

Then he'd just have to worry about the writers...


------------------
Call me Erdrik
--hvErdrik
-[DRK]Erdrik
-Erdrik
Boycott Fox!! Down with the Evil OverLords!!
Down with the Evil Letter: 'C' ARRRG!
Kryten

Space Pope
****
« Reply #10 on: 05-01-2002 23:15 »

Maybe a promo with Dexter, Cubert, and Double-D arguing over who gets to stay on as CN's resident Boy genius?

Cubert: This preposterous! I'm far more intelligent than these two posers!

Dexter: Whaaaaat? My poor deluded friend, you seem to be mistaken. You see, I was inventing boons to mankind long before you were even a glimmer in Matt's eye. Surely, you can agree that I, Dexter, am the one true boy genius.

(The two get into a violent brawl)

Edd: Oh dear, not good.

Dexter: Surrender, you pathetic, inferior copy of me!

Cubert: Make me, shrimp!

Edd: Why won't you stop? When will this senseless violence END?! My GOD, man... WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CIVILITY?!!!

Dexter/Cubert: SHUT UP, SOCKHEAD!
BrainSluggo

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #11 on: 05-01-2002 23:44 »

I keep QuickTimes of both the SuperFriends/PowerPuff Girls crossover and the SuperFriends: Whazzzup? commercial, along with the Avengers: Got Milk? ad.

Bender could get down with Brak and Zorak, making fun of the big white Space Pig; Nibbler could eat Cow & Chicken. (Just as a gag.)
Erdrik

Professor
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« Reply #12 on: 05-01-2002 23:52 »
« Last Edit on: 05-01-2002 23:52 »

Or Proffessor Utonium, could team up with Farnsworth and double team Wurmstrom! lol    :laff:

Or another 'screwy ain't it' ad with the HGB with random Character is in it, like Space Ghost or Buggs Bunny ^_^

BrainSluggo

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #13 on: 05-02-2002 00:02 »

Girl Talk with DeeDee and Amy!! Leela asks: "Is there a Mrs. Blue Falcon?" Harvey Birdman runs afoul of Hyperchicken and Judge Whitey. Sealab 2021 finds Atlanta and Umbriel. Aqua Teen Hunger Force falls before the awesome might of Farnsworth's race of atomic supermen! Guenther and Mojo Jojo compare notes and groom each other.
Erdrik

Professor
*
« Reply #14 on: 05-02-2002 00:12 »
« Last Edit on: 05-02-2002 00:12 »

The black guy from Sealab2021 could reveal to Bender that he's a Robot.
BENDER: Arg! Cover yourself! Your corrupt files are showing!!!

And Hermes could be chatting with Edd and Velma  :D
------------------
Call me Erdrik
--hvErdrik
-[DRK]Erdrik
-Erdrik
Boycott Fox!! Down with the Evil OverLords!!
Down with the Evil Letter: 'C' ARRRG!
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