Has “Sperminator” Arnold Schwarzenegger rained on fast-rising producer Megan Ellison‘s Hollywood parade?
The 25-year-old daughter of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison completed her transformation to Hollywood’s hottest new producer in Cannes when it was announced she beat Lionsgate in a bidding war for two “Terminator” films that would put the ex-California governor back in the franchise.
She also made headlines for some impressive deals: Ellison backed PT Anderson‘s too-hot-to-handle Scientology allegory “The Master” and then sold its distribution rights to Harvey Weinstein. She also sold rights to the Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Mia Wasikowska movie “The Wettest County in the World” to Weinstein and is fully financing “Hurt Locker” director Kathryn Bigelow‘s hunt-for-Osama bin Laden film.
But a week after Ellison’s “Terminator” buy, for which she reportedly shelled out up to $20 million with no distributor on board, the Schwarzenegger scandal broke. CAA was told to put the brakes on the philanderer’s return to the screen, terminating his “Terminator” plans until further notice.
Now it’s unclear whether Ellison is stuck holding damaged goods. “I am assuming there’d be a ‘subject to’ clause,” said one experienced film honcho, meaning Ellison might have an out if Arnold isn’t in the mix.
The circumstances are awkward for uberagency CAA, which handled the “Terminator auction and also reps Schwarzenegger and advises Ellison.
“She’s getting involved in a very interesting portfolio of movies,” said a source. “To her credit, some could be very risky. There are a lot of projects out there that need someone with taste and financing.”
In other words, no one wants to upset a financier willing to take risks right now.
CAA and an Ellison rep had no comment.