Hollywood has always been a place where visions collide, sometimes for better, but often for worse. Such was the case with “Geostorm,” a film that promised high-octane disaster thrills but ended up as one of 2017's biggest cinematic disappointments. Directed by Dean Devlin, best known for his work on blockbusters like “Independence Day” and “Stargate,” “Geostorm” was meant to be his triumphant directorial debut. However, as Devlin himself reveals, the film that audiences saw was far from the one he originally set out to make.
“Geostorm,” released on October 20, 2017, follows a satellite designer, played by Gerard Butler, who must race against time to stop a cataclysmic storm triggered by hijacked climate-controlling satellites. With a star-studded cast including Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, and Ed Harris, the film had all the ingredients for a box-office hit. Unfortunately, the final product fell short, both critically and commercially, grossing only $221.6 million worldwide against a hefty budget of $120–$130 million.
So, what went wrong? According to Devlin, the answer lies in the massive changes made after he was sidelined from the project. Following poor test screenings in late 2015, Devlin was replaced, and more than half of the film was re-shot and re-written under the direction of Danny Cannon, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and writer Laeta Kalogridis stepping in to ‘salvage' the project. The result was a movie that Devlin hardly recognized, leading him to candidly state, “It's not my film.”
Despite the disappointment, Devlin remains optimistic, expressing his willingness to restore his original vision of “Geostorm” if given the chance. Whether or not we'll ever see this version remains to be seen, but for now, the film stands as a testament to the often turbulent nature of filmmaking in Hollywood.
For those curious, “Geostorm” is available on digital platforms and on Netflix in certain regions, offering a glimpse into what might have been one of the most ambitious disaster films of the decade.
