Lee, Bond Company in Discussions Over Final Length of ‘Malcolm X’

Discussions are under way between director Spike Lee and Warner Bros. to determine the final length of “Malcolm X,” Lee’s much-anticipated film on the life of the slain black leader.

The president of a completion bond company that assumed financial control of the film after the production went $5 million over budget said Lee is contractually obligated to bring in “Malcolm X” at 2 hours and 15 minutes. Lee has said publicly that he envisions the film as a three-hour epic similar to “Dr. Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia.”

“There are current efforts between the director, the producers and the distributor (Warner Bros.) to resolve the issue of the length of the final film,” said Bette L. Smith, president of Completion Bond Co. of Century City.

Smith said Warner Bros., which has domestic distribution rights, and Largo Entertainment, which has bought the foreign rights, specified a length of no greater than 2 hours and 15 minutes for the final film in their agreements with Lee and his producers.

She noted that the original budget of $28 million was for a shorter film. The movie, which stars Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, is currently at $33 million. It will be released in November.

The bond company halted its funding March 27 as the movie was in the midst of editing. A four-hour version of the film was screened for top executives of Warner Bros. and Largo Entertainment last week.