UPDATE: The numbers are even worse than we thought. A $2 million opening weekend appears to be in store for “Ella McCay.” Reviews have only gotten worse—21% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 37 on Metacritic. Suffice it to say, Brooks, 85, may have just directed his last film.
EARLIER: James L. Brooks’ “Ella McCay” is aiming for $3-4M from 2500 theaters in its debut weekend. The mid-budget film ($35M) is Brooks’ first film in 15 years, and truth be told, it’s modestly budgeted when compared to his last film, “How Do You Know,” which cost $120M to produce, and only grossed $30M — it’s also the last time Jack Nicholson appeared on-screen.
Brooks, the filmmaker behind “Terms of Endearment,” “As Good as It Gets,” and “Broadcast News,” wrote and directed the romantic comedy about a young politician (Emma Mackey) who rises to become her state’s governor, navigating the challenges of balancing her demanding career with her family life.
The cast is filled with talent: Emma Mackey, Rebecca Hall, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Ayo Edebiri, Albert Brooks, Kumail Nanjiani, Jack Lowden, and Spike Fearn.
More bad news for Brooks, “Ella McCay” just had its review embargo lifted, and there aren’t many positive write-ups. The current tally has the film at 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 39 on Metacritic. Those are practically the same numbers “How Do You Know” received back in 2010.
So why did 20th Century greenlight James L. Brooks’ “Ella McCay”? Surely they read the script and realized it was a dud. He hasn’t had a critical and commercial hit in 28 years (“As Good as It Gets”). Brooks hasn’t been a reliable draw in years and while Emma Mackey stars in this new project, she’s far from a household name.
Industry whispers suggest the real reason: in exchange for approving “Ella McCay,” the studio secured Brooks’ commitment to develop a sequel to 2007’s “The Simpsons Movie,” recently announced for a 2027 release. In other words, classic Hollywood quid pro quo: “we’ll scratch your back if you scratch ours.”
“Ella McCay” has set its sights on a December 12 theatrical release.