Well, here’s some your daily dose of odd news. Tony and Ridley Scott are apparently interested in making the move from producers/directors to studio honchos, as they are eyeing to the top spots at the “new” MGM.
The financially embattled studio is currently on the auction block and according to the Financial Times, the Scott brothers “have expressed interest in running MGM”. But that’s about all anybody seems to know. The paper goes on to say, “The Scott brothers have their own production company, Scott Free, but it is unclear whether their proposal would involve combining it with MGM, or if they are seeking a stake in the recapitalized studio. They could not be reached for comment.” The presumption is that once the studio figures a way out of its financial woes, the Scott brothers want to be on board whatever team is going to be driving the revamped MGM.
What do we think? Bad idea. Running your own production company (the duo run Scott Free Productions) is one thing, but running your own studio is another, adding layers of politics, financial obligations and paperwork that we would imagine would drive any creative team absolutely nuts. However, if they are merely eyeing a percentage-stake sort of scenario, that wouldn’t be too far out of the question. With MGM owning both “The Hobbit” and “James Bond” franchises, as an investment opportunity it makes sense — sort of — but would largely depend on whoever else is involved in taking the reigns of the studio next not running it into the ground. Again.
