Paramount picks 8/11 to release 9/11 movie
Stone's WTC drama skedded for August
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Paramount Pictures has skedded the currently untitled pic for Aug. 11.
Studio picked the date in order to avoid the appearance that it was commercially exploiting the disaster.
"First of all, you wanted to be out before Sept. 11," said Par distrib prexy Wayne Lewellen.
He added that the studio tried to avoid the anniversary as much as it could. "You really didn't want to be on that date because you don't want it to appear that we were trying to exploit it."
Sensitivity over making a film involving the tragedy has already put the production under close scrutiny, especially by those concerned that Stone may introduce his politics into the story.
Universal Pictures is also rushing to complete its Sept. 11-themed "Flight 93," which Paul Greengrass will helm and will tell the story of the plane hijacked by terrorists that was prevented by its passengers from slamming into its intended target.
U has not set a release date for "Flight 93," but industry sources expect it to reach screens before Stone's effort.
Currently referred to as "Untitled World Trade Center" by Par, the Andrea Berloff-penned script is based on the true story of John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno, two Port Authority police officers who were trapped in the ruins at the World Trade Center and ultimately rescued.
Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena are set to play McLoughlin and Jimeno, respectively.
Par's choice of an Aug. 11 release date will put the pic in the summer season, when studios normally release lighter fare. The only other pic currently on the date is Revolution and Sony's Wayans brothers laffer "Little Man."
Lewellen said he thought the Stone pic will be able to find its aud in the summer. "Though it's hard to say this given the event it deals with, it is a feel-good movie. It's the story of the last two people to get out of the building alive."
