Universal to make an American Idiot movie and NOT In The Heights?! — Page 2

Obviously, Universal didn't WANT to make a little film. It happens all the time.

Most people don't know where the Heights are? What a ridiculous thing to state! If you don't live in NYC, of course you don't know the neighborhoods. Just like people in NYC don't know the different names for the regions around the Great Lakes, or the different names of the areas surrounding Boston. Why WOULD the rest of the country know. In what way is that SAD?

I liked ITH, thought it was cute. I think even with big Latino names, it would have likely failed miserably -- just like Nine. (I mean this from a financial pov.)

Will American Idiot succeed? Don't know, but it will certainly have a bigger built in fan base.

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Not having a plot didn't stop Across the Universe from getting made.

In the Heights could work as a film, but it would be a very different beast than the Broadway show. They'd have to add a lot more spoken book and cut back on the songs (cut some, shorten others) to appeal to a wider audience. There would have to be a little more front-loading of exposition to set the stage of Washington Heights, as well.

The real expense would be in marketing the film. It would take a really big push to draw audiences in and even then it could backfire. Do you show the rapping or hide it and let less open movie goers complain later? Do you pick out a plot point to sell it on or market it as an explosive musical tableau with different sets and dances and everything else? This isn't "featuring the music of ABBA" or even "starring Beyonce." This is an original musical from a first time writer/composer in a very distinct style that might not grab a large audience across the country as quick as Hollywood expects.

Probably the best thing would be for In the Heights to be made by an independent production company, toured on the festival circuit, and then worry about getting mainstream distribution.

American Idiot, on the other hand, hinges on Green Day. You know, the band that got its own version of Rock Band and gets major press for everything they do? That's enough to guarantee a decent return at the box office for a major studio.

When was the last Latino-based movie that made money? The Selena biopic? La Bamba? The Family Perez?

Movies with virtually all-Latino casts don't sell.