why did this script sell for so high?
1.7 million for the script. how did the bid go up so high?
shareBecause Shane Black had revolutionized the action genre and gave a real kick in the ass to the cop-buddy formula which, until then, had really only been done once or twice (48 Hours and Lethal Weapon are the only ones I can think of, with LW being his own work).
It was very refreshing to the industry, and had been so profitable, that it was assumed that whatever he did next was a surefire moneymaker, and giving 1.7 million to the guy, to make something that would make so much more for the company, seemed like peanuts.
Unfortunately, the movie didn't perform as well as it was expected to, but I consider the movie to be a great action film, and in some ways, much better than LW. It's more clever, has more intriguing characters, and is much, much funnier.