Followers of the Fletch franchise would possibly have to console themselves with a steak sandwich or two.
Greg Mottola, who directed the 2022 characteristic Confess, Fletch, took to social media to present an replace about his deliberate sequel to the movie that starred Jon Hamm as Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher. Hailing from Miramax, Mottola’s film rebooted the character that originated in writer Gregory Mcdonald’s novel collection and was memorably performed by Chevy Chase within the 1985 comedy Fletch and its sequel 4 years later.
After movie critic Bilge Ebiri posted this week on X (previously Twitter) that Hollywood ought to make extra Fletch films, Mottola identified that his sequel to Confess, Fletch was not in growth, with the director attributing the setback to a change of management at Miramax. On the time of the Confess, Fletch launch, Mottola mentioned in an interview that he had already been employed to write down a follow-up primarily based on Mcdonald’s 1978 novel Fletch’s Fortune that’s set on the planet of journalism.
“Alas, the brand new head of Miramax, who controls the rights to all of the books, shot down my sequel undertaking,” replied Mottola, who can also be recognized for helming Superbad. “The Fletch curse obtained me.”
He continued, “I used to be advised ‘the primary one misplaced cash’ — as if there had been any try and become profitable. Jon [Hamm] was very into the brand new script. I’ve been slightly depressed about it, however exhausting to count on an excellent break within the characteristic world as of late.”
Miramax is presently led by CEO Jonathan Glickman, who took the position after Invoice Block exited late final 12 months, and in line with Mottola, this transition harm the sequel’s prospects. “It was unhealthy luck for me that Invoice Block obtained fired,” Mottola posted. The director additionally wrote, “I obtained caught within the altering of the guard, and my comedy is simply too dry and unsentimental for the brand new masters.”
After a social media person famous that the movie underperformed on the field workplace, Mottola agreed however mentioned that he was didn’t admire its advertising and marketing technique. “Sure, however they dropped it in theaters for per week with just about no advertising and marketing, then caught it on Showtime (with nary a billboard or industrial),” Mottola wrote. “It was basically a streaming film.” He additionally lamented that “characteristic comedy is having a tough time.”
A supply with data of the state of affairs tells The Hollywood Reporter that Miramax granted the filmmakers a chance to arrange the sequel elsewhere. This window to buy the undertaking has since expired.
Hamm advised THR this spring that he was sport to reprise the position however acknowledged that prospects have been cloudy. Targeted on the actor’s character being accused of homicide whereas attempting to trace down lacking art work, Confess, Fletch co-starred John Slattery, Roy Wooden Jr. and Marcia Homosexual Harden.
“We’re attempting to make one other a kind of, and it’s exhausting,” Hamm defined. “The film didn’t break information on the field workplace, not that which means something.” When requested if there was a script for the sequel, he added, “Yeah, and there are 10 books, and we’re like, ‘Right here’s the roadmap. Can we observe it? Please?’”