It was reported just a few days ago that Warner Bros would be editing GANGSTER SQUAD in order to remove a scene in which members of the titular Gangster Squad opened fire on a crowded movie theater. Only this wasn’t just any scene – it was an important moment in the movie’s climactic confrontation, taking place in Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
As such, Warner Bros has swiftly realized that making the originally planned release date of September 7th is simply out of the question at this point. The sort of reshoots necessary to write, shoot, and edit what is, in effect, a new ending and the build up to said ending will simply take far too much time to do. And that doesn’t even include how long it might take to re-assemble a crew that includes hot director Ruben Fleischer and equally hot (he’s writing JUSTICE LEAGUE) writer Will Beall and a large cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Giovanni Ribisi, And beyond even just gathering the cast and crew once again, Warner Bros also has to consider if and when they would all be available to do press for GANGSTER SQUAD.
January 11th, 2013 is the date currently being eyed, as this fall is packed nearly overflowing with movies of every genre and the only competition on that date would be HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS.
So what say you? Is this another sad aftershock of last week’s tragedy, or an unnecessary step for the studio? And will knowing the cause of GANGSTER SQUAD’s move inspire you all the more to see it for the sake of solidarity, curiosity, or not at all?
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