While Joe Carnahan has lately been getting press for the movies he hasn’t been able to make (“Daredevil” and potential Oscar winner “Death Wish“), you may have forgotten he’s got “Stretch” in the can. The low budget comedy-thriller (it cost under $5 million) had been scheduled to hit theaters on March 21st, but perhaps the lack of a marketing campaign should’ve indicated something was afoot. Indeed, THR reports that Universal has dropped the movie from their schedule, with no current plans to release it in theaters.
The high concept project is led by Patrick Wilson, playing a chauffeur, whose night on the job gets crazier thanks to the demands of his billionaire client (played in a cameo turn by Chris Pine). This leads to all manner of zaniness with Jessica Alba, Brooklyn Decker, Ed Helms, David Hasselhoff and Ray Liotta all popping their heads in the film. So, cheap, an easy sell and the kind of movie that looks like it would make its money back on opening weekend. And moreover, it features Wilson, who has been the face of hits like “The Conjuring” and two “Insidious” films (the latter of which is from the same producer, Jason Blum). So why not just follow the playbook of those movies?
Apparently, Universal couldn’t see the justification in spending $20-40 million on a marketing campaign, presumably because they don’t think they can make it back. Blum tried to find another distributor but wasn’t able to make a deal with anyone, so for now, “Stretch” is in limbo. But of course, Carnahan had a few things to say about all this on Twitter.
Guys. Bottom line. STRETCH is fucking great. It’s funny. It’s touching. It’s unique and @patrickwilson73 is absolutely brilliant in it.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) January 22, 2014
I can talk shit & argue with that idiotic @THR story but brass tacks, that movie works & you will all be fast fans of it when you see it.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) January 22, 2014
I think it’s as good or better than my best film & say that from the bottom of my heart. This movie will make it to you, trust me.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) January 22, 2014
Guys, the movie is gonna find its audience & that audience will love it. Whether that happens now or later is irrelevant. It’s gonna happen.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) January 22, 2014
For those of you who knock TWITTER, I wish I could show you the hundreds of tweets pouring in right now on behalf of STRETCH. Tremendous.
— Joe Carnahan (@carnojoe) January 22, 2014
Basically, dude isn’t worried about “Stretch” finding a home and fans. And with Chris Pine joking with Collider (video below, at the 3:15 mark) his scene in the movie “may end my career,” we’re certainly curious, but for now it looks like we’ll be waiting for “Stretch” to round the corner and pick up another distributor to get it out there.
