Will there be a video game tie-in for Spike Jonze’s adaptation of “Where The Wild Things Are”? Could be says Joystiq.com who has gathered some credible evidence to suggest a game is on the way around the release of ‘Wild Things’ October 16 due date.
“Though it has yet to be announced, a few completely believable sources have spilled the e-beans about the existence of a tie-in game for the upcoming Spike Jonze-directed Where the Wild Things Are movie. Amaze Entertainment’s website, in its “Company Culture” area, lists some of the games the developer has made, ‘as well as two titles due out later this year: Where The Wild Things Are on all console platforms and Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings for PSP.’ “
Meanwhile, on the ‘Wild Things’ subject, the New York Times has written a piece called, “Do Studios Need Help Finding Audiences?,” in their media and advertising section suggesting marketing for the film (and many others) won’t be easy this year.
Apparently Warner Bros. has hired, ARSgroup, a company, that for decades has tested television ads and other marketing plans for packaged-goods titans like Procter & Gamble, who now has its eye on Hollywood.
Jonze noted to AICN months ago that the film initially, “freaked the studio out,” and it may be with good reason. Many media outlets are claiming despite super-favorable reaction to the trailer from a certain 20-something age-group the picture could be a hard sell for wider audiences “It doesn’t look like a family movie,” an anonymous head of creative advertising at a rival WB studio told AdAge. “Are they going for the cineastes or are they going to convince kids to go? It’s the most interesting marketing problem in town right now.”
The marketing publication also notes that ‘Wild Things’ is a year late and millions over budget which adds to the dilemma. Every Pitchfork media reader in the world could go see the movie twice and it still wouldn’t recoup its budget. They need the kids and the families and so far, the picture looks more niche then broad.
“Wild Things” producer Gary Goetzman told the magazine, “Spike has made a film that crosses all demographics,” but AdAge says, it “doesn’t appear the studio thinks many kids will be coming.” The same anonymous source, probably trying to rain on WB’s parade says, “when you don’t have a single kids’ holiday nearby, that’s not fertile ground for family pictures.”
Don’t be surprised when you see trailers that don’t have hipster songs from Arcade Fire and try and reach a totally different base.