My Little Pony: The Movie: The Spoiler Thread

My Little Pony: Spoiling is Tragic (FiM spoiler chat)

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My Little Pony: The Movie: The Spoiler Thread

Postby The Doctor (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:18 am

https://wikileaks.org/sony/emails/emailid/33914

Fwd: MLP Feature Script -- 1st Draft for Review
My Little Pony draft just in in from Stephen Davis.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Davis, Stephen <Stephen.Davis@hasbro.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 1:46 PM
Subject: MLP Feature Script -- 1st Draft for Review
To: Bob Osher <bob_osher@spe.sony.com>, Hannah Minghella <Hannah_minghella@spe.sony.com>, "mrkouyate@spanimation.com" <mrkouyate@spanimation.com>



Hey Team SONY:

We're pleased to send you the first draft of the MY LITTLE PONY ANIMATED FEATURE. Looking forward to setting some time to sit down and discuss. To move the discussion forward, I thought we would also send some of our overall thoughts in advance of our conversation that highlight what we think is working and what we want to dive into deeper in subsequent drafts.

WHAT'S WORKING

Clear voicing of characters: Meghan has done a nice job with the characters and created a setting that fans of the show have come to know and expect. The most valuable thing she brings is the legitimacy that makes this story FEEL like a My Little Pony story Setting up an existing mythology that also works for a new audience: Although we feel we can work to make this aspect even stronger, we feel that this script does lay out a story that a new audience can jump into and does a good job of establishing our core cast and what they are about right off the bat. Clear understandable straightforward journey: The basic plot is a great backbone to build from. It's a simple quest with a clear goal at the end. Promise of big iconic set pieces: We need to dive in and plus these, but as a jumping off point we have some great new creatures and opportunity for some exciting action sequences. The baseline for a strong emotional arc to the story: Again, we can dive deeper, but Twilight stepping out on her own to prove that she can accomplish something her mentor thinks she isn't ready for is ripe emotional territory. Creates a "bigger than the TV show" story in size and scope: The framework here is very sold, but we can obviously supersize it even more to blow out the Pony-verse for the big screen. Works as a musical: Although we feel some of the musical numbers need to be shifted around for pacing and emotional reasons, the story works really well as a musical and uses the songs to establish story, drive plot and dive into deeper character moments.
AREAS FOR MORE EXPLORATION

Deeper dive into emotional stakes and character moments: We think the moments are there and the emotional story tracks but our biggest overall note is that we want to really dive in and make the moments much deeper, take the time to build out some of the relationships and really push to make Twilights emotional growth as clear and strong as possible. Humor: We think the character's inherent personalities are bringing a light and fun tone to the story, but think we can push some aspects, characters, etc to mine much more comedy. Villain arc/motivation: We don't think Cosmos is quite there yet as the villain. His motivation is unclear and his personality could use a pass to make him truly stand out. Entrypoint for new audience: We think the script tracks for a new audience and they won't be lost, but with the number of characters with existing relationships and the backstory of alicorns, etc., we can work harder to make this feel even more stand alone without sacrificing all of the fun the fans will be expecting.
Obviously we have tons of other thoughts as well and we can't wait to sit down and spend time talking about pink and purple ponies with you :-) But thought this would be a good base to start from. ENJOY!


:pinkieshrug: sounds like a Twilight focused mega episode. So I'm not too surprised.

Backstory of the Alicorns could be interesting, so long as they all aren't worfed for Twilihgt to be the chosen one that saves the universe.
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Postby Bumble-B (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:27 am

I'm not too optimistic about Sony animation or movie production state. Popeye by Genndy Tartakovsky was just axed recently, the Amazing Spider Man 2's somewhat disappointing reception and box office plus the Spider Man deal with Marvel looks like a big blow to the movie studio, and things just haven't looked good for Sony (outside of the gaming side) for a long time.

And while DHX is doing most of the production, it does seem like if Sony is the distributor, they still can discuss or ask for changes.

It would be funny if the MLP movie was released under Sony since Lauren Faust happens to already be working for them on Medusa :-P

I wonder who else would be interested in distributing it. Or at least, who Hasbro would want to distribute their films. I doubt they would let Disney distribute it for example
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:33 am

So is this potentially why that other writer was brought in? This email is 7 months before the movie announcement.

Also, we have this email but not the script itself?
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:33 am

Well, that's quite a little teaser.

Not sure how I feel about the girls fighting KOS-MOS, but I suppose it's heartening that Sony is interested enough to be pointing out points for refinement like that.

The Doctor wrote: :pinkieshrug: sounds like a Twilight focused mega episode. So I'm not too surprised.

Let the hand-wringing over Twilight becoming a Really Big Pony begin anew. :excellent:
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Postby Bumble-B (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:36 am

All I think of whenever I hear Cosmos is:
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:-I

But I'm hoping they actually give the villain some charisma and character like many of Disney's great villains i.e. Dr. Faciler :allears:
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Postby Bremen (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:37 am

I'm actually kind of excited (though not surprised) at it being a Twilight centric adventure. Admittedly I've been against those in the past, because I feel they're overdone, but this is going to be a full length feature movie. I think trying to make it anything but epic worldshaking adventure would probably be undercutting it from the start. So while I definitely favor other characters getting focus in normal episodes/two-parters, I think an action packed Twlight story fits well here.

SlateSlabrock wrote:Not sure how I feel about the girls fighting KOS-MOS, but I suppose it's heartening that Sony is interested enough to be pointing out points for refinement like that.


The e-mail is from Hasbro, they just sent it to Sony as an FYI. It's a "we're working on it, this is why we think it's great, this is what we want to work more on" kind of statement.

Edit: In addition to the e-mail covered in the OP, there are three others of interest that I can see. The first two are employees at Sony discussing the draft:

Pony

Are you planning to do notes on My Little Pony? I read - it's cute and fun, and definitely feels like a good, clear place to start. It works for fans but it's not too isolating for big audiences. The tone is good and there are some good jokes - it's got the kitsch and modern blend that seems to work for the show. That said, it's a little too simple, the villain isn't strong enough, and we need to be tracking Twilight and Celestia more closely and giving both of them stronger arcs. We get a little lost in the weeds of the ensemble as we go along. I may just be echoing Hasbro's notes, but it also needs stronger set pieces.


MLP -This version definitely feels like a blown out expanded episode
and with this approach it doesn't feel like there is an audience
beyond the fans of the show. I don't see how it expands out. While
Stephen Davis' notes all make sense in the confines of this story,
you'd really need to explain many things that are so inside the show
-- this doesn't feel like the version to do for theatrical.


Nothing terribly surprising, though the first makes it sound like Celestia gets her own story arc as part of the movie. Some minor criticisms, but seeing as they're discussing a first draft that's not discouraging in the slightest.

The third e-mail is seven months later and means we can't be sure of anything, though:

I connected with Stephen Davis. They are re-working the script completely and have not started production. Megan has partnered with Joe Ballerini and they have developed a new take. I am going to set up a time for them to come in and pitch it to us and share some preliminary art work. The film will be finished in February 2017 and they like the idea of targeting an April 2017 release. Hasbro would be open to either making an investment in the p & a or back stopping it.


So, the script gets a rewrite with Joe Ballerini adding his skills; how much of the original info is still valid is impossible to say. Here we also see the statement that it will be released early in 2017, but I wouldn't put much stock in that either. The whole reason companies are loathe to make early release predictions is that tends to change and people get unhappy because "You promised it by xxxx!"
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:25 am

I knocked up a quick summary of the key points. Four leaked email chains, four blocks of text:

• Sony are distributing, with a target date from Hasbro of Q1 2017

-------

• Speaking of the first draft, Steven Davis of Hasbro felt that the characters, world and mythology set up by Meghan were on-point. Speaking of being accessible to new viewers, he felt that they could "work to make this aspect even stronger".
• He felt positive regarding the establishment of the cast and the "clear understandable straightforward journey".
• There is talk of big iconic set-pieces, new creatures and exciting action sequences.
• The story concerned "Twilight stepping out on her own to prove that she can accomplish something her mentor thinks she isn't ready for".
• Steven felt that the story works "really well" as a musical.
• Areas of focus for exploring and developing further include making emotional moments deeper, building out relationships, making Twilight's emotional growth stronger and more clear, pushing for more comedy.
• The villain, "Cosmos" is seen as not quite "there yet", needing work to make clear his motivations and adjust his personality to make him stand out.
• Once again, making the film accessible to new audiences given the "number of characters with existing relationships" and "the backstory of alicorns" is highlighted.

-------

• Sony Pictures Animation didn't feel comfortable that the first draft worked for non-fans, and that it felt more like an expanded episode from the show.

-------

• As of the end of 2014, Megan McCarthy and Joe Ballerini were teaming up to completely rework the script and present "a new take".
• As of the end of 2014, Feb 2017 was the target for completion of production, and April was the target for release.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:01 am

Bremen wrote:
Edit: In addition to the e-mail covered in the OP, there are three others of interest that I can see. The first two are employees at Sony discussing the draft:

Nothing terribly surprising, though the first makes it sound like Celestia gets her own story arc as part of the movie. Some minor criticisms, but seeing as they're discussing a first draft that's not discouraging in the slightest.


Celestia might get to actually do something. That'd be a nice surprise.
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Postby Bumble-B (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:08 am

The Doctor wrote:
Celestia might get to actually do something. That'd be a nice surprise.


Annnnnd she gets captured again and Twi and friends and have to save her again :gotcha: :-/
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:48 am

Considering how Celestia has been becoming increasingly irrelevant (hell, she didn't even appear in The Cutie Map), I think this movie will be all-or-nothing for her. Either she'll barely show up, most likely in the context of arguing with Twilight over whether she's ready for whatever's happening, or this'll be her biggest role ever.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:54 am

Fizzbuzz wrote:Considering how Celestia has been becoming increasingly irrelevant (hell, she didn't even appear in The Cutie Map), I think this movie will be all-or-nothing for her. Either she'll barely show up, most likely in the context of arguing with Twilight over whether she's ready for whatever's happening, or this'll be her biggest role ever.


I'd figure the latter is more likely. The whole student/mentor thing sounds to be an important emotional thread (from what I can infer, I guess) and it's a pretty reliable one in fiction generally. There's also the mention of the Alicorns, which suggests some level of importance for Celestia and co.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:35 pm

AppleCobbler44 wrote:
Annnnnd she gets captured again and Twi and friends and have to save her again :gotcha: :-/


Well, Meghan is helping rewrite it...

PaulloDEC wrote:
I'd figure the latter is more likely. The whole student/mentor thing sounds to be an important emotional thread (from what I can infer, I guess) and it's a pretty reliable one in fiction generally. There's also the mention of the Alicorns, which suggests some level of importance for Celestia and co.

:ponynet: and then ALL the Alicorns except Twilight are captured by Cosmos.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:50 pm

The Doctor wrote: :ponynet: and then ALL the Alicorns except Twilight are captured by Cosmos.

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Postby londonarbuckle (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:50 pm

Someone in IRC found some more of these the other night.

https://wikileaks.org/sony/emails/emailid/33390
https://wikileaks.org/sony/emails/emailid/82553
https://wikileaks.org/sony/emails/emailid/21606
https://wikileaks.org/sony/emails/emailid/83298



Re:

We will send it to marketing as you suggest.

I totally agree with you -- and while Stephen Davis' notes all make sense in the confines of this story, you'd still need to explain some of the things that are so inside the show. This version definitely feels like a blown out expanded episode and with this approach it doesn't feel like there is an audience beyond the fans of the show. I don't see how it expands out.

On Mon, Mar 24, 2014 at 12:09 PM, Pascal, Amy <> wrote:

lets have marketing guys look at it and find out if girls and ect want to come see the movie

I must say this is tough and it feels like if thy want to do this script its the small the pay for the movie version and if we are interested we could distribute

Because as a person with minimal knowledge I found it hard to understand and acceSs the world

All the characters are simply presented as twilights friends in ponyville

Also who are writing these songs and preforming them s the idea to have real actors and singers do the voices

Why has everyone come to honor the the three princessses and the six ponies
(celestia cadence and luna)

What does the bearded mean the other Alicorn

It sort of feels like you walked into the middle of an episode rather thAn a movie

Alicons lost citys
Three stones that give you control of the natural elEments?obsidiAns?Return of brother cosmos
What's happening....

6our princesses?
The crysatl empire and canderlot

What is an alicorn I'm so confused

Why does cosmos want To drive the ponys and unicorns and pegasis from equestria?

Cosmos thinks the princesses ordered him to stay in equestria?

shouldn't the relationships between each of them and their little sisters have some Variety

Why does longma telll them the right door cuz they brought extra fruit

Who is shining armour? Is all this gonna make sense to anyone

this made up game takes a lot of pages

why all of the sudden do the sisters just decide they have the power to confront cosmos

Who and what aee ignis aquos ans aeris

the coral sands appear know how to get them out but can't get out themselves?

Another princess?

except for rarity they don't have much personality

I like the stars falling from the skys and the people thinking equestria is a myth

they don't get the help of alicorn after going there
And princeSs wter lilly just gets them home...oh then they come right

And then an explosion of rainbows

I get it if we bring the ponys into our world or something like smurfs

Not sure it works thisway


I get it if we bring the ponys into our world or something like smurfs


something like smurfs
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:01 pm

Hopefully Hasbro has the sense to tell Sony to piss off if there are enough folks there calling for something that stupid. I mean, holy shit, that's basically the worst thing you could do with FiM. :facehoof:
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:04 pm

So they were seriously thinking of making the Ponies on Earth (that's not Equestria Girls) fanfics canon? :-I
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Postby Master_Twig (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:05 pm

Fizzbuzz wrote:Hopefully Hasbro has the sense to tell Sony to piss off if there are enough folks there calling for something that stupid. I mean, holy shit, that's basically the worst thing you could do with FiM. :facehoof:


Well, other than turning them into humanized high-school girls that is. :-P
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Postby Mr. Big (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:06 pm

It should be noted that Amy Pascal is, more or less, fired from Sony after the hack started to happen, so they can pretty much ignore her suggestions if Hasbro wants to continue working with Sony.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:25 pm

In other worlds, corporations trying to ruin good shit as usual.

I mean, they have a point that for a big widely distributed movie, little access outside of hardcore fans of the show is an issue, but their solutions are almost always shit. Why do they think the best way to provide more access is to bring x into real world? :-/

Anyways, was that hinting at Star Swirled being an alicorn? I doubt any of these details will be relevant now, though.

EDIT: Also, "real actors/singers" for the songs? More narrow-minded thinking
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Postby MochaBean (?) » Sun Apr 19, 2015 8:40 pm

Wayoshi wrote:Why do they think the best way to provide more access is to bring x into real world? :-/


One of the big ironies about the Film and TV industries is that they're ran by some of the most unimaginative, uncreative people possible. They think that audiences can't relate to a story unless there's some demographically appropriate avatar* or safe and familiar setting to latch on to, because that's the way they think. Never mind the fact that little girls have been happily flocking to this show - with its wholly fantastical setting and a cast devoid of human characters whatsoever - in droves for over five years, THEY NEED AN "IN", DAMMIT!

It reminds me of when Fox tried to force Paul Dini and Bruce Timm to add Robin to Batman: TAS because they thought there was no way kids could relate to an adult superhero all by himself (despite the fact that they'd already been doing that for over 50 years via the comics.) Timm and Dini were like, "Okay, fine, we'll add him," but made him the adult version of Dick Greyson just to spite the execs.

(*Not to be misunderstood as an argument against representation, which I'm all for.)

Also, "real actors/singers" for the songs? More narrow-minded thinking


We should forward this quote to Billy West and watch him go apeshit. :gotcha:
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:27 pm

By "real actors/singers" I assumed they meant big-name celebrities that could be plastered all over posters and other promotional material. Again, another example of the shortsightedness of the film industry. They think everything needs star power or people won't watch it.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:36 pm

That email from Amy is chilling. It's almost like a parody of how film execs think at times, especially when the Smurfs of all things gets name-checked. When you're talking about changing a popular, critically acclaimed IP to be more like a financially successful yet desperately sub-par hollywood film, it's clear that something other than creative integrity is first on the on the agenda.

I hope to god Meghan and Joe found a way to retool the script to be more newbie-friendly that didn't involve stunt-casting or wacky hijinks in New York City. It's a daunting task with a cast the size of MLP's cast, but the alternative as imagined by Sony doesn't bear thinking about.

I'd really love to know where the power/influence lies in the whole relationship. Presumably it was entirely Hasbro who decided they wanted to make a film, which would suggest they have plenty of faith in what MLP is right now as an IP. Does that mean Hasbro would be resistant to messing with the formula at the behest of Sony, or do they need Sony enough that they'd agree to warping the IP, when it was (presumably) the strength of the IP that earned it the chance to become a film in the first place? Does Hasbro even give a crap, or do the creative team have enough control/influence to steer the whole production?

So many questions.

Fizzbuzz wrote:By "real actors/singers" I assumed they meant big-name celebrities that could be plastered all over posters and other promotional material. Again, another example of the shortsightedness of the film industry. They think everything needs star power or people won't watch it.


The thing I keep coming back to here is that they chose to adapt "Friendship is Magic". Not "My Little Pony", but specifically the ongoing TV series with it's established cast and lore and characters. They could easily have just said "We're doing an MLP movie with no ties to any existing series" and made their lives dramatically easier from a corporate point-of-view. Cast whoever you want. Story can be as simple as you like. Just do a reskin of "The Smurfs".

They chose to do a "Friendship is Magic" movie though. That gives me some hope.
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Postby Wylie (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:43 pm

Remember, Hasbro created Allspark Productions to handle just about everything on this film. If they have Allspark handle the distribution, then they don't need Sony for that. Go back and read the press release about Allspark - it drips with thinly-veiled "we don't need big studios to 'help' us make good movies" rhetoric.

Frankly, e-mails like that one are probably 90% of the reason they decided to produce in-house. ("Sweet Celestia they want to make this another Smurfs?" :gonkity: )
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:45 pm

Wylie wrote:Remember, Hasbro created Allspark Productions to handle just about everything on this film. If they have Allspark handle the distribution, then they don't need Sony for that. Go back and read the press release about Allspark - it drips with thinly-veiled "we don't need big studios to 'help' us make good movies" rhetoric.

Frankly, e-mails like that one are probably 90% of the reason they decided to produce in-house. ("Sweet Celestia they want to make this another Smurfs?" :gonkity: )


That reminds me, are Sony even officially a part of this, or were Hasbro still in the "shopping it around" stage when those emails were sent? I don't remember ever hearing that the two companies were officially linked.
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Postby Marimo (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:07 pm

Wylie wrote:Remember, Hasbro created Allspark Productions to handle just about everything on this film. If they have Allspark handle the distribution, then they don't need Sony for that. Go back and read the press release about Allspark - it drips with thinly-veiled "we don't need big studios to 'help' us make good movies" rhetoric.

Allspark Pictures is meant for production, but it doesn't say they'd cover distribution. And the Jem movie being made by Allspark isn't being distributed by Allspark, but by Universal.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:22 pm

The news about Allspark Pictures broke in October 2014, back when we first publicly heard about the movie as well. That horrid email from Amy Pascal was from March 2014, seven months before that. I wonder if Hasbro founded Allspark Pictures in response to meddling like that, such that they wouldn't have to be quite so dependent on mainstream Hollywood companies and their poor ideas. After all, as was said in that first announcement...
Hasbro Studios will take the reigns of “My Little Pony,” producing and financing it in-house. It is in discussion with studios to release the film “on the broadest possible number of screens,” said Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis. “We’ve very excited about the potential of that movie.”

...

“We will continue to make big tentpole movies with our studio partners,” says Davis of franchises like “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe,” at Paramount, and “Monopoly” and “Candy Land” at Sony, “but there is another set of movies where we feel we have an opportunity to have a bit more control over the budgeting, financing, calendarization, marketing and creative of our films. There are new economic models that fit certain films.”

With a line like that, I get the feeling that this was the case for Allspark's creation.
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Postby PaulloDEC (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:31 pm

Fizzbuzz wrote:With a line like that, I get the feeling that this was the case for Allspark's creation.


I'd forgotten how specific that press release was, and it certainly makes a strong case for what you're suggesting. That last paragraph in particular where they directly call-out the difference between the films they make with studio partners and the ones they do at Allspark seems particularly unambiguous. Add to that the straight-up confirmation that they're financing the film in-house, and it portrays a situation where Sony really wouldn't have any pull when it came to requesting changes.

Thanks for hunting down those quotes, Fizz!
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:17 pm

there is another set of movies where we feel we have an opportunity to haveshould insist on having a bit more control over the budgeting, financing, calendarization, marketing and creative
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Postby Bremen (?) » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:35 pm

PaulloDEC wrote:That email from Amy is chilling. It's almost like a parody of how film execs think at times, especially when the Smurfs of all things gets name-checked. When you're talking about changing a popular, critically acclaimed IP to be more like a financially successful yet desperately sub-par hollywood film, it's clear that something other than creative integrity is first on the on the agenda.

I hope to god Meghan and Joe found a way to retool the script to be more newbie-friendly that didn't involve stunt-casting or wacky hijinks in New York City. It's a daunting task with a cast the size of MLP's cast, but the alternative as imagined by Sony doesn't bear thinking about.

I'd really love to know where the power/influence lies in the whole relationship. Presumably it was entirely Hasbro who decided they wanted to make a film, which would suggest they have plenty of faith in what MLP is right now as an IP. Does that mean Hasbro would be resistant to messing with the formula at the behest of Sony, or do they need Sony enough that they'd agree to warping the IP, when it was (presumably) the strength of the IP that earned it the chance to become a film in the first place? Does Hasbro even give a crap, or do the creative team have enough control/influence to steer the whole production?

So many questions.


Even back then, the idea was Hasbro would fund and produce the film and Sony would handle distribution, so I imagine any influence Sony would have in the creative process would be limited. And, at the risk of being optimistic, Hasbro has never come off as stupid; they have to realize the show staff have succeeded with MLP beyond anyone's wildest financial expectations. I'd like to think they'd keep that in mind and give them a wide range to do what they want.
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Postby Applepie (?) » Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:29 am

something like smurfs


Anything but the Smurfs live action.

All I think of whenever I hear Cosmos is:


That was funny. :crack:

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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat Apr 25, 2015 4:26 am

Fizzbuzz wrote:Hasbro Studios will take the reigns of “My Little Pony,” producing and financing it in-house.

I get irrationally annoyed at people screwing up "take the reins," but doubly so when using it to make a horse pun. :-/
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Postby Headless Horse (?) » Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:21 am

You'd think it would be ... neigh impossible
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Postby die Fledermaus (?) » Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:39 pm

Jesus take the reins.
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Postby Wayoshi (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:20 pm

Reviving this thread briefly... let's keep using this thread all the way until release, why not?

Since the last post in this thread, Sony has been fired (thankfully) from distributing. Lionsgate is now the distributor. From what I've seen there's still an attempt to hire some star power in this (link link2), but hopefully it won't overshadow the main cast of the show. There's a release date of Oct 6, 2017 at the moment, but based on the link below, it could be moved up to summer depending, and the date was solidly November 3 until recently, so I guess said date is not final yet.

Some information potentially came out of Russia this weekend:

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2016/05/p ... lides.html

Going way back to the Sony leaks where the plot was vaguely referred to in an email, it's possible the sea ponies is one of three places to go to get the three stones/MacGuffins, etc. I will say that the opening with Spike sending letters the nostalgic way etc. sounds pretty legit to me.

======== DUMB WAYOSHI SPECULATION BELOW ========

I have heard very, very vague rumors (read: 4chan) that a character will be killed off because a VA is moving on from the show. This is very, very likely bullshit, but when I see Celestia appear in No Second Prances with Nicole Oliver not even voicing her, and you'd expect something huge with relation to alicorns in this movie, and... I'm not entirely ruling it out.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:27 pm

I know Celestia has had other appearances without voice. Equestria Games comes to mind.
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Postby Soft Snow (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:30 pm

So from that I can gather, some guy named Cosmo shows up and says ponies don't belong in Equestria and starts a bunch of ruckus. The only only way to stop him is to collect the stones of water, air and fire and to get them they have to transform into a different pony species each themed after their respective stone. So far the new ponies will be seaponies, hippogriffs and I can only imagine the fire ponies will either be nightmares or those dragon things from Thems' Fightin' Herds.

My speculation is that they will also have to find the stone of earth which happens to be the ponies themselves.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:53 pm

Wayoshi wrote:======== DUMB WAYOSHI SPECULATION BELOW ========

I have heard very, very vague rumors (read: 4chan) that a character will be killed off because a VA is moving on from the show. This is very, very likely bullshit, but when I see Celestia appear in No Second Prances with Nicole Oliver not even voicing her, and you'd expect something huge with relation to alicorns in this movie, and... I'm not entirely ruling it out.

I'd take those rumors with a correspondingly very, very large amount of salt. The show's gotten past the point of doing dramatic things for the sake of raising the stakes time and time again, so even with the movie such as it is, I can't see the movie going to far as to have Celestia or someone else die.
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Postby SlateSlabrock (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:56 pm

Wayoshi wrote:I have heard very, very vague rumors (read: 4chan) that a character will be killed off because a VA is moving on from the show. This is very, very likely bullshit, but when I see Celestia appear in No Second Prances with Nicole Oliver not even voicing her, and you'd expect something huge with relation to alicorns in this movie, and... I'm not entirely ruling it out.

Those rumors apparently came from someone who's posted fake rumors in the past, so they're not very reliable. They also said "a main character," which seems tailor-made to stir up speculation. Not impossible, but... I'd wait for the movie first.
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Postby Fizzbuzz (?) » Sun May 01, 2016 11:57 pm

Well, if it's a main character, then there's only one answer.
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Postby The Doctor (?) » Mon May 02, 2016 12:00 am

I still think a Celestia and/or Luna death is possible.

It's a movie, it's almost certainly going to raise the stakes. Meghan also has a habit of having them get captured for dramatic effect. I think it's totally possible a death is one of those things to raise the stakes.

Not to mention, Celestia is a wise mentor character, and they nearly always die eventually.
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