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Trolls World Tour Gets a Second Controversy: Actors Want Their Bonuses
Universal's experiment with releasing Trolls World Tour on demand in the midst of a pandemic has been full of surprises. For starters, NBCUniversal shocked theater owners by not notifying them in advance that it was going to offer this title on demand. They reacted badly to the perceived attack on their traditional windows. But the studio also caught its own talent off guard when it revealed early premium on-demand plans for the animated tentpole.Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the Trolls sequel’s top voice stars, including Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, also were not informed ahead of the March 16 announcement that the film would be available to rent for $20 online. This is not the sort of surprise such people usually like, and it’s a sensitive matter because compensation for big stars in animated films is largely tied to box office bonuses. The stars' reps are now asking for them to be paid, no doubt to the tune of seven figures, but they were still game to publicize the film.
Another prime example where being the first to do something (at least at this level) results in some existing plans and processes needing to be altered.
I’m reminded of when the WWE shifted from their monthly PPV model to a streaming subscription model.
Typically, the performers on the show would receive a paid bonus based on the PPV performance. With more people moving to paying a lower, monthly fee, the payment plan had to be shifted, right?
Well, that was in February 2014, and still hasn’t been addressed, so I wish Mr. Timberlake and Ms. Kendrick all the luck in the world.
Wednesday May 6, 2020