April 21, 2017
Welcome to another episode of SFP-NOW.
For this episode we speak with British movie producer Adi Shankar about numerous subjects including Power Rangers, Dredd and so much more.
Shankar also provides some of his interesting insights about the film industries relationship with franchise movies and how movie franchises such as Terminator have been softened over the years.
After the interview we move to the regular TV discussion in which Raissa and Ian discuss their thoughts on the recent ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘The Pilot’. We also chat about recent episodes of Agents Of Shield as well as discuss a few interesting rumours.
As always you can listen in by using the audio player below or access all our past shows at http://scifipulseradio.com
The owners of the JUDGE DREDD & 20000AD properties released this press statement in response Adi Shankar’s comments about a DREDD sequel.
“While we truly do appreciate Adi’s enthusiasm for Judge Dredd, he has no involvement with the franchise and any future cinematic or small screen outings.
“Claims of him pushing forward a sequel to DREDD are not true and we don’t want fans to get excited only to have their hopes dashed. 2000 AD and Rebellion continue to work hard to bring the future’s greatest lawman back to screens.”
https://www.2000adonline.com/post/1393
Adi wasn’t creatively involved in DREDD.
Adi’s company – 1984 Private Defense Contractors – does gap financing/completion funding on films; that means his company secures additional loans from banks so productions can add extra funds to their production budget. These bank loans are made against pre-selling the film to foreign territories – which is how Adi has an ‘executive producer’ credit.
DREDD was written and produced by Alex Garland & DNA Films in the UK and shot in South Africa with the majority of its budget coming from Reliance – an Indian conglomerate that makes Bollywood films.
Alex Garland as the sole writer was the main creative force behind the film.
Fair does.
If you listen to the interview. Adi is fairly evasive when I ask him about Dredd.
He’s been more or less told to zip-it and stop talking BS in regards to news of a DREDD sequel. It’s a clever tactic because when DREDD is mentioned it attracts clicks to articles about, and interviews with, Adi Shankar. He sometimes requests that interviewers ask him about DREDD and its sequel chances so it can be put into the interview or its title.
“He also has no news on the Judge Dredd front, even though he’d told me to ask about it.”
https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/02/15/phone-castlevania-producer-adi-shankar-wanted-talk-pro-wrestling/
Films where he is credited as ‘executive producer’ basically means he had no creative involvement. With his fan-films he gets others to pay for, write and direct them, sometimes based on his initial ideas, then he releases them on youtube under his Bootleg Universe brand. For instance, Joseph Kahn wrote, directed, and paid over $100,000 to make Power/Rangers but it seems Adi gets most of the attention.
Adi is a good promoter of himself which is why his upcoming series is officially entitled ‘Adi Shankar’s Gods and Secrets’.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4959410/
I’m all for him producing and being involved in things he wants to see get made but when he implies that he is the ‘creative force’ or person responsible for work he didn’t do, it’s an insult to the real talent. In light of his actions, his ‘no copyright stance’ come across as hypocritical and makes him look like a opportunistic thief rather than someone fighting for creative freedom.
Wow.