Exclusive: Tomorrow… plans for trilogy and TV series
The team behind the film adaptation of John Marsden’s novel Tomorrow When the War Began has plans to extend the property to three films and a television series.
“What we’re trying to create is a franchise, with a potential for three films and a television series. To create that opportunity we need to see the Australian audience embrace it and the international marketplace recognise the strength of the film,” executive producer and managing director of Omnilab Media Christopher Mapp told Encore.
According to Mapp, there is no minimum box office result that would guarantee production of the sequels and the TV series.
“I won’t be able to give a number on that, because it will be a blend between box office success, foreign sales and the DVD, which won’t be that long down the track. The social media out there is certainly strong enough to suggest that DVD numbers will also be reasonably strong.
“The first film is a film in its entirety. It’s a great story, with wonderful moments of drama, action and romance – everything that a wide film going audience would appreciate. If the audience embrace that, we’re ready for expanding on [the series’] potential,” explained Mapp.
Tomorrow… is writer Stuart Beattie’s first feature as a director. It will be released by Paramount Pictures in Australia on September 2. The international sales agent is Inferno Entertainment, and although they’ve “certainly had interest”, there is no confirmed deal for a US release.
“We’re continuing to pursue that. There are a couple of approaches that we could take; it could be a wide release, or a medium-wide release. We haven’t locked in the strategy yet for North America,” said Mapp.
Another Omnilab production, Rachel Perkins’ musical Bran Nue Dae, still holds the title of highest-grossing Australian film of 2010. It will be released in the US by Freestyle Releasing on September 10.
“Bran Nue Dae is a platform release. We’ve committed to at least 50 screens, but we will go through stages depending on whether audiences embrace it and to what level, so we can then think of an expansion plan,” added Mapp.
i think its a good idea
and i think it will be good to finish the story
User ID not verified.
If Australians don’t embrace this film, then they won’t embrace anything this country produces. It’s a highly accessible, highly entertaining, yet high quality piece of work and is something we should all be proud of and want to see more of.
User ID not verified.
The novels are testiment to this great story, and the authors support of this particular adaptation is phenomenal – cant get any better word of mouth than that. Australians should support this film just to see the whole story translated to screen!
User ID not verified.
The novels are testiment to this great story, and the authors support of this particular adaptation is phenomenal – cant get any better word of mouth than that. Australians should support this film just to see the whole story translated to screen!
User ID not verified.
This story has the potential to be another Harry Potter, only MILES better.
Just depends on how well they can translate the story to the screen..
User ID not verified.
Tomorrow…will be better than Harry Potter! We must be able to see this move in the USA
User ID not verified.
If this doesn’t get to another movie then it won’t be through lack of support from fans. I know someone who flew from WA to be in Sydney for the premiere. I went to the premiere and it is fantastic. I can’t think of a better adaptation of book to screen and I will be seeing it as many times as possible while it is in cinemas!
User ID not verified.
A tv series is a stupid idea, id prefer if they made all 7 movies, it will lessen the impact of the story and not do justice to the way it was written
User ID not verified.
I was at the premiere, I’ve read the books numerous times and I absolutely ADORED the movie!!
But – PLEASE! – don’t turn this into a tv series. It would ruin it.
User ID not verified.
I was lucky enough to be able to design and direct the credit/title sequence for TWTWB and certainly look forward to next few movies in the series! We should all support this Aussie classic.
User ID not verified.
This is hands down one of the most accessible films that has been made in this country! If it doesn’t succeed I think we need to close down the Australian film industry. The writing is awesome, the action and plot gripping, the ensemble of actors is flawless (with particular kudos going to Caitlin Stasey for her excellent big screen debut – she will be headhunted overseas after agents see this bravura performance). I just hope Paramount market it properly so it doesn’t disappear at the box office. I deserves to do VERY well at the Australian box office and has the cross-over appeal to do gangbusters in the American market – bring on the sequels -left me wanting more from Stuart’s directing debut. Everyone involved in the production of this film should be praised for their professionalism and the outstanding end product.
User ID not verified.