Universal Pumps Up Output in Effort to End Dry Spell

With the disappointing results of such recent high-profile films as “Primary Colors” and “Mercury Rising,” the departure of one of Universal Pictures’ two production heads, Marc Platt, and the firing of marketing heads Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Universal’s film division would seem headed for a period of turmoil and uncertainty. And in fact, the last 18 months have not been happy times at the studio, which had few home runs other than “Liar Liar,” “The Nutty Professor” and “Lost World.”

But Universal Pictures Chairman Casey Silver believes the tide is about to change.

“It would be disingenuous to say that change doesn’t promote anxiety,” Silver admits. “But we have the people in place during this transition and we’re involved in the ongoing process of keeping things on course.”

Silver, whose own job seems secure for now, has announced plans to ramp up Universal’s annual output from a recent low of 12 to 15 pictures to 20 a year, many from the production companies with whom the studio has existing or developing relationships: Imagine Entertainment, Danny DeVito’s Jersey Films, Will Smith’s Overbrook, Martin Brest’s City Lights and such talents as the Zucker brothers and directors Scott Hicks (“Shine”) and Ang Lee (“Sense and Sensibility”).

For the short term, marketers Shutt and Jones remain in place until a replacement is found. Platt’s duties have been absorbed by the remaining production president, Stacey Snider, who despite reports to the contrary says she will be staying.

“I’m here and my group is here,” she says. “We have good projects in the pipeline and we’re dedicated to the process.”

Silver and Snider also seem confident that other speculation--like a takeover by DreamWorks or mogul Barry Diller--is completely without merit. “The denials can’t be more emphatic,” Silver says.

And despite a coming roster that includes films featuring Brad Pitt (“Meet Joe Black”), Robin Williams (“Patch Adams”), the “South Park” creators (“BASEketball”) and Babe the pig, industry agents confide that they are reluctant to bring new projects to Universal until the dust settles.

“The general sense is that they don’t seem to be spending money on hiring writers and directors right now,” is how one literary agent characterized talk among industry agents.

But Silver says the studio is actively searching for directors on several projects, including films starring Julia Roberts and Kevin Costner. The studio is also close, Silver says, to deciding on a project for director Penny Marshall and has courted actor Tony Goldwyn, who recently made his directing debut for Miramax.

However, even in the post-”Titanic” era, Universal, like other studios, is holding back on projects whose budgets are deemed unrealistic. Silver and Snider recently postponed Phil Alden Robinson’s Bosnian war drama “The Age of Aquarius” and the action adventure “The Hulk.”

“You have to love all three elements equally: screenplay, director and stars,” Snider says. Until she is satisfied, both projects will remain on the back burner.

Producers with long-term deals at the studio say that, so far, there’s been little noticeable change in the studio’s day-to-day operations.

Imagine Films’ Brian Grazer, who has been berthed primarily at Universal for several years and provided the studio with such recent hits as “The Nutty Professor” and “Liar, Liar,” has nine Universal releases in various stages of completion due out over the next year. His view on the recent shift is optimistic with caution.

“The remaining production team is very good, smart young people, who are talented,” Grazer says. “The only open issue is marketing.”

Having enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Shutt and Jones, Grazer is patiently waiting out the transition. “I want to make sure they’re [Imagine’s movies] marketed with the same amount of interest and intensity and professionalism. My belief is that they’ll hire a strong marketing person and that I will continue having this same level of success.”

Michael Shamberg, a principal in Jersey Pictures, recently alighted at Universal, has the thriller “Out of Sight,” starring George Clooney, one of Universal’s summer releases. He says the film’s marketing strategy was already close to completion when the Shutt/Jones announcement was made.

“We have our materials and they’re spending the money to market the movie,” says Shamberg, who describes the “Out of Sight” campaign as “aggressive.” “I’d be the first person to complain if I thought something was wrong. But maybe because of the transition they’re taking extra care.”

Silver asserts that Universal’s recent dry spell appears to be coming to an end, though he is facing the highly competitive summer season with realistic expectations. “We expect a profitable summer, though we don’t have aircraft carrier pictures on paper,” says Silver (aircraft carrier is code for obvious blockbusters on the order of “Lost World,” the studio’s high-grossing 1997 release).

“But,” he adds, “at the end of the year, things will demonstrably change.”

In addition to “Out of Sight,” directed by Steven Soderbergh (which has been getting good advance word of mouth), the studio’s summer schedule includes Terry Gilliam’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (which has not been receiving favorable advance word). For “BASEketball,” Snider is hoping for “lightning in a bottle,” with the combination of the talents of director David Zucker and “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Also, Universal is partnered with DreamWorks on the computer-animation adventure “Small Soldiers.”

Fall will include Carl Franklin’s family drama “One True Thing” with Meryl Streep and Renee Zellweger, the coming-of-age drama “Rocket Boys” and the “Child’s Play” sequel “Bride of Chucky.” Silver also has big holiday plans, starting Nov. 13 with “Meet Joe Black,” a sort of remake of “Death Takes a Holiday,” starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani, directed by Martin Brest. (Pitt is also set to star in the drama “Laws of Madness” for Imagine, based on a true story about a man who overcomes acute schizophrenia to graduate from Yale Law School.)

“Joe Black” will be followed by “Babe: Pig in the City.” Imagine’s much-publicized remake of the Hitchcock classic “Psycho”--done this time in color, directed by Gus Van Sant--may fall into early December, since recent year-end releases like “Scream” have made the holidays hospitable to horror.

At year’s end comes what Silver described as a “Good Morning, Vietnam”-type comedy-drama, “Patch Adams,” starring Robin Williams, a true story about a doctor who takes on the health-care system, directed by Tom Shadyac (“Liar, Liar”). The bestseller “Snow Falling on Cedars” has been adapted for Australian director Scott Hicks (“Shine”), who will make his U.S. film debut. The drama stars Ethan Hawke and opens in major cities at the end of December.

Silver and Snider have tentatively mapped out the studio’s summer and holiday ’99 releases, aware that the studio’s health relies on being prepared for those two crucial seasons.

Summer of 1999 will include the big-budget adventure “The Mummy,” which stars Brendan Fraser and is currently filming in North Africa, and “U-571,” a World War II submarine drama starring Michael Douglas. Chris Tucker and Mariah Carey are the stars of “00 Soul,” a spoof of James Bond movies. For “The Love of the Game” will mark the return of “Kevin Costner the way audiences want to see him,” according to Snider, that is, a romance with a sports backdrop. Julia Roberts tackles a “Silkwood” type of role in “Erin Brockovitch,” a true story about a woman who uncovers a toxic spill and corporate cover-up.

For the final holiday season of the century the studio plans the sequel to “The Nutty Professor,” one of several Eddie Murphy films from Imagine. Murphy also co-stars with Martin Lawrence in “Life,” a comedy about prison life, and with Steve Martin in “Bowfinger’s Big Thing,” a Hollywood comedy written by Martin.

Another Christmas film should be “Imagining Nathan,” a fantasy drama about a woman and her relationship with her emotionally disturbed brother, which Tony Goldwyn will direct. Imagine’s family contribution for the season is “Curious George,” based on the beloved Margaret E. Rey tale. “George” will be a computer-created character in this live-action tale.

Other projects that will surface in 1999 or slightly beyond include:

* “Ed TV” from director Ron Howard, a comedy about a man (Matthew McConaughey) who agrees to let his everyday life be televised.

* “KPAX,” a comedy-drama starring Will Smith about a psychiatrist who learns important lessons from a man who claims to be from an alien planet. Smith’s company, Overbrook, is also producing the superhero tale “The Mark” for Universal.

* “Ride With the Devil,” Ang Lee’s Civil War-era adventure starring Tobey Maguire, Jewel and Skeet Ulrich.

* Jim Carrey will star as comedian Andy Kaufman in Milos Forman’s biographical film “The Man on the Moon.”