LONDON (Reuters) - Production of the upcoming 64 million pound superhero movie "Watchmen" may be pulled from Pinewood Studios because of concerns about the costs of making movies in Britain, according to a report.
"The feeling is that there might be a less expensive way to do it outside the UK, given the environment right now," producer Lloyd Levin told ScreenDaily.com, which reported on Monday that several crew members had already been given notice.
The government announced earlier this year it would look at revamping the tax incentives for big-budget movies produced in Britain. Pinewood Shepperton, which owns the studio where the James Bond movies are made, said in March that uncertainty about tax breaks would cause a substantial decline in its first-half revenues.
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Pinewood Shepperton declined to comment on the status of "Watchmen", based on a cult classic comic book by Alan Moore, who also created "Hellboy" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". The movie is scheduled for a 2006 release.
The Hollywood trade publication Variety reported last week that "speculation has been raging" that Paramount Studios, the film’s distributor, might pull the plug on "Watchmen" in an attempt to cut costs, but a spokeswoman for the studio insisted production would continue.
Paramount, a unit of media conglomerate Viacom, appointed former TV executive Gail Berman as its president last week to help revamp its lagging movie operations under new studio boss Brad Grey.
Levin told ScreenDaily.com that the creative team for "Watchmen", including British director Paul Greengrass, would remain in place.
