12 Directors Who Blamed Studios For Failed Movies

An exceptionally odd entry here, with the movie's failure caused by New Line Cinema's sensitivity to the target audience's religious beliefs. Based on a novel by Philip Pullman titled Northern Lights, The Golden Compass explored an alternate Earth where a religious organisation controls all aspects of life. The decision to soften the anti-Religious themes of the book left director Chris Weitz with little room to move, and was largely responsible for the critical and box office bomb the film became.

The director has little doubt where the blame needed to be placed, unloading on the producers while advertising his new film, Twilight: New Moon. "The last film that I made was recut by the studio, and my experience with it ended being quite a terrible one." Other than the significant changes made to his script and pivotal scenes left on the cutting room floor against his wishes, Weitz was also upset with Ian McKellan being chosen by the as the voice of armoured bear Iorek, despite someone already being cast in the role.

While Weitz was rightfully angry with the studio interference, the Producers actions did have some justification considering the significant campaign against the movie's release. Considering New Line Cinema simply wanted a film to cash in on the success of other 'tween friendly' franchises, the last thing they would have expected or wanted was to create an uproar in the community. Still, reading the script before agreeing to finance the film might have been a good idea.