Sci-fi feature ""Babylon A.D." is reported to have received financial help from an insurance company due to being over budget and behind schedule.
- Jul 25, 2007
AceShowbiz - Running so far over-budget and behind schedule, sci-fi flick "Babylon A.D." had to be rescued by an insurance company to elude itself from being axed.
The New York Daily News reported that Film Finances Inc. of West Hollywood, a firm insuring movies to ensure they will be completed, has shelled out about $1.5 million so that the project could carry out its additional shooting in Paris and Prague. Though did confirm about the financial backup, a spokesperson for the company refused to unveil the exact amount, saying only "10 of 15 percent" of the 250 films insured each year need to be bailed out.
Meanwhile, an insider told the paper that part of the problem with the movie was caused by an ongoing ego clash between star Vin Diesel and helmer Mathieu Kassovitz whom previously was claimed by producer Alain Goldman to be "not an easy director in terms of temper."
"These guys really didn't get along. I think they wouldn't mind if they never saw each other again," the source stated.
Diesel's representative Meredith O'Sullivan, however, insisted: "The movie wrapped and everyone's really happy with it. Vin is not a diva."
In related news, entertainment site TMZ.com has claimed to obtain reliable information saying there was "no scandal" on the picture and that "the budget of the film was over as is normal" for such big-budget projects.
