No, you misunderstand. I KNOW the story makes for a good movie in its own right. But generations of US film makers have been hampered by the studios who believe that American audiences will engage less if there isn’t an American on screen in a good guy role. This has given us everything from Steve McQueen in The Great Escape to the whole concept of Memphis Belle being shifted from a time-served Lancaster crew to a US one very early in development.
Then there is the problem of this being a retreat. Hard for the Americans to ‘get’ unless there’s a heroic American saving our cowardly asses, and other animals. I am not saying this is how this one will go – but there is a precedent, and a risk. It is a possibility! I certainly expect an heroic American (or an Irishman, I was told by a US producer this will do) in there somewhere, for the reasons above.
This indeed does not add to the story for us Brits, but US film industry belief is that it will for Americans. And big budget films are made to strict formulae. Any pitch will raise the question ‘..and where’s the American’? I have done some pitching to the US – this is from experience.
Sign In
