After the shooting in Aurora, CO, at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises changes were going to be made by Warner Bros. After initially pulling the trailer for Gangster Squad because of a pivotal sequence in it where a movie theatre is shot up, Variety is reporting that the sequence is being pulled altogether.
Per Variety: Warner Bros. has since decided to remove the scene from the film, which opens Sept. 7, and is putting reshoot plans into motion, a source with knowledge of the situation told Variety. Warner Bros. would not comment.
What does this mean? This is probably the best thing Warner can do; the scene isn’t pivotal to the film if they’re willing to pull it so quickly. It’d also be in poor taste to keep it in considering that we just had a massacre at a movie theater and this one has a similar sequence. But a couple things to keep in mind.
Warner did consider pulling a scene from The Dark Knight after Heath Ledger died involving the Joker and a body bag but ended up keeping it in. This might end up being the same, as production delays on a film like this could force it to get rescheduled as well. Similar rumors came up after Ledger’s death and that particular sequence was kept in. Most likely trying to find a way around it with Ledger’s death would’ve been impossible and depending on circumstance this might end up in the film anyways.
It all depends on if they can get the principles involved to be able to get out and get the new sequence done. Trying to get actors back on set is difficult as many are working on other projects for other studios and thus unable to get back to re-shoot a new scene.
Considering the sequence is a violent one, as well, trying to find a new path will be interesting. Money will also be one thing to consider as well; if Warner is going to go over budget on this with this new sequence and will be ok with that? Sometimes money does talk in situations like this. One imagines that the scene will be included as an extra on the DVD release down the road.
What do you think? Do you think this is a good idea by Warner Bros, considering the circumstances? Or do you think they ought to keep it in? Let us know below.
