These days, anything Disney does is instantly labeled as another bad decision. But while ditching Nimona for its LGBTQ+ themes proves that the Mouse House ain’t very bright, its refusal to release yet another project might actually be the studio’s first smart decision in a while, even though the film is currently winning the box office before even releasing.
Meanwhile, a struggling reboot — which has been stuck in developmental hell for the last 15 years — daydreams of joining the elites. And when foolhardy aspirations are not keeping Disney in focus, Indiana Jones 5 is, with its own battles against a specific kind of discrimination many thought was long gone for good.
After Nimona, Disney’s second stepchild in 2 weeks proves to be a dollar magnet at the box office
Just like Netflix struck gold by releasing Nimona, Angel Studios is reaping the benefits of grabbing Sound of Freedom – which was shelved by Disney back in 2018. The Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino starrer already nabbed a hefty $10 million at the box office before its release today, which is a big feat as it is backed by a small production house instead of a giant like Disney.
But despite its clear potential to be a financial victory, it is very much possible that the Mouse House actually dodged a bullet by dumping the film. Its plot is said to depict the real-life story of former agent Tim Ballard who ditched Homeland Security to embark on a solo mission of saving trafficked children. The shaky authenticity of his claims and the ethics of his anti-trafficking organization has raised some dark questions.
What further makes Disney’s decision look wise in comparison is the particularly sensational conspiracy theories the film’s star, Caviezel, is passionately discussing to promote Sound of Freedom.
A stuck reboot, struggling to reach completion for over a decade, sees itself as an equal to Marvel and DC
Disney’s MCU took years to achieve the bankable franchise status it enjoys today, while the DC cinematic universe is still struggling to reach that milestone. And then there is Mattel boss Ynon Kreiz, who thinks the still-in-development-since-2007 Masters of the Universe reboot is already “as big as Marvel and DC.”
Given all the hurdles that keep hitting the reboot, perhaps taking it one film at a time would be wise instead of losing focus on building an imaginary franchise that is on par with the biggest shared universes out there.
Harrison Ford’s plan to bid Indiana Jones the perfect farewell is crumbling in the face of a dated bias
Disney’s list of biggest box office bombs might soon add another name as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s $60 million domestic opening weekend doesn’t spell a bright future for Indy cracking the whip for the last time. By all accounts, the film should have been a winner but there are many factors working against Indiana Jones 5, including ageism.
Many reviews have not shied away from stressing that the biggest thing about the film that bothers them is Harrison Ford’s age and incorrectly highlighting how he is just too old to helm an action film. Well, not everyone is blind to the fact that Ford holds his own — even looks good while doing it — and the real reason why Indiana Jones 5 doesn’t resonate with a big chunk of its audience.
Published: Jul 4, 2023 07:00 pm