8 Insane Ways Movies Tried To Save Money
5. Studios Keep Trying To Make Robin Hood/King Arthur Movies Happen
Remember back in 2014 when Sony announced plans to develop a Robin Hood cinematic universe? What about in 2010, when we learned that the Wachowskis were set to write and direct Hood, a modern spin on the Robin Hood story? How about Robin Hood 2058, set in a dystopian London? Or 2018's mega-flop, Robin Hood?
The amount of Robin Hood movies shunted into development over the last several years is truly baffling, and the root cause of this pandemic is, unsurprisingly, money. Or more specifically, saving money.
The legend of Robin Hood has been in the public domain for quite some time, and this makes it an ideal property for studios to adapt. Since the character is free to use, movie companies get all the benefits of a recognisable IP without having to pay any licensing fees along the way, which saves them a big chunk of change.
This desire to use "freebie characters" has clearly sent film studios into a blind money-saving craze, since Robin Hood movies continue to be put into development, despite two of the most famous recent adaptations (the aforementioned 2018 version, and Ridley Scott's 2010 effort) proving critical and commercial failures.
The King Arthur property is also applicable here: 2017's Legend Of The Sword was initially meant to spawn a cinematic universe, but it bombed hard, killing those plans. Even in light of this failure, Fox still decided it would be wise to push ahead with 2019's The Kid Who Would Be King (which utilised elements of the King Arthur mythos), seemingly banking on their perceived popularity of the King Arthur lore. In the end - and while the movie was good - it didn't even make back its budget.
You'd think Hollywood would learn...