Even the Producers of Transmorphers Were Wary of Cowboys & Aliens
Since its release at the end of July, Cowboys & Aliens has grossed around $110 million worldwide. That's not a washout on the level of The Worst Movie Ever!, but it's still a big enough disappointment to possibly dissuade future Hollywood genre mixes -- especially ones that deal with cowboy hats. Not that anyone should have been surprised by this underwhelming result -- even the guys from The Asylum stayed away from Cowboys & Aliens.
Speaking with Adult Swim, the mockbuster mavens behind such films as Transmorphers, Snakes on a Train, Almighty Thor and Battle of Los Angeles, revealed that they kicked the tires on a Cowboys & Aliens film, only to pass.
"People ask why we didn't do Cowboys & Aliens," The Asylum's Paul Bales said, "and we considered it for a while, but in the markets we have, genre-mixing doesn't work."
About those markets: Bales cited Europe as particularly interested in disaster films, rather than creature features. Perhaps that means audiences can expect Fright Night to get the mockbuster from The Asylum in three-to-four months. Ding! Tip your waitress.
· How to Make a Mockbuster (in Five Easy Steps) [Adult Swim]
Comments
"...possibly dissuade future Hollywood genre mixes"
What does this mean for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?
You mean Chester A Arthur: Zombie Slayer?
Genre mixing is possible, and with more time I would give some examples of some movies. Westerns might be the toughest genre to mix successfully with another, however.
Can you spell D.O.A.? I'm guessing Tim Burton and 2oth Century are crapping their pants over the C & A box office. And the fact that people are starting to get tired of vampires.