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The movie from 21st Century Fox about a cyborg
heroine in a post-apocalyptic world has been more than 15 years
in the making with a budget of between $150 million and $200
million.
Co-producer Jon Landau said the makers would not judge its
success by box-office numbers and felt they had delivered the
movie they wanted.
"We are our biggest critics," Landau told Reuters. "If we're
happy with the movie, we've done our job. I think not only are
we happy with it, but James Cameron is happy with it and (manga
creator) Yukito Kishiro, who could be our biggest critic of all,
is thrilled with it."
Cameron, the director of Hollywood's $2 billion blockbusters
"Avatar" and "Titanic," first wrote a script for "Alita" in 2004
but handed the movie over to director Robert Rodriguez in order
to focus on three long-delayed sequels to "Avatar."
Hollywood entertainment website The Wrap reported last week that
"Alita: Battle Angel" was expected to take in a modest $25
million over five days when it opens in North America on Feb.
14.
Cameron said two more "Alita" movies based on Japanese writer
Kishiro's graphic novels were mapped out if the first film does
well.
Rodriguez said the biggest challenge in making the movie was
finding the right actress to play the lead part of Alita, a
wide-eyed young angel of death played by Rosa Salazar, with CGI
effects.
"We can put up all the scale and spectacle on the screen, but if
we don't have somebody to carry the heart and empathy of the
movie? Rosa was the shining light that showed us the way,"
Rodriguez said.
"Alita: Battle Angel" also stars Oscar winners Christoph Waltz,
Jennifer Connelly and Mahershala Ali.
(Reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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