On the ending of Alita and the movie adaptations

[Skatche]

I first read the manga back in the late 90s/early 2000s, and I could never understand why Kishiro wasn't satisfied with the way it ended -- until I bought the box set edition recently and discovered that he'd originally ended it merely by blowing up Alita. The thing is, I thought the "second ending" which he wrote later (with Alita saving the world and being reconstructed with an organic body) was a beautiful and fitting end for the manga, and as Last Order changed it, it felt a bit "off" -- so I never really got into it (nor the Martian Chronicles).

With the first episode of Cameron and Rodriguez' brilliant adaptation now in theatres, I'm starting to wonder how they're going to play it. The way they set up the sequel, it looks like the Tuned story arc won't happen, and Figure Four might not make an appearance either, though they might find a way to write him in; on the other hand they've apparently planned for a trilogy, and I'm not sure how they could fill two more films without the Tuned arc, unless they dip into New Order. Perhaps Alita's visit to Zalem will be the occasion for her induction into Tuned? For all his monstrous qualities, Nova is a surprisingly sympathetic villain, and he might be the one who convinces her to work for the Zalemites.

More to the point, though, I'm hoping they'll go with the second ending, rather than the transition to New Order. What are your thoughts? Do you think there's material in New Order that would make a better direction for the trilogy? I haven't read past the first two volumes, so please try not to spoil it.

[Jashu Drannoc]

For the "original" end, I've allways think it missed some thing. What appened on Mars ? How Gally learned the panzer kunst ? Why did she ended up in Kuzutetsu ? And a lot of thing...

[Neksus]

Why bothering about it now? There won't be a sequel.

[jjaquinta]

From the international sales, it is looking like there will be a sequel. When Cameron bought the rights, there wasn't a Last Order. So I think all of his vision for the movies is going to be constrained by that.

I largely expect any sequel to diverge even more from the manga. They could fill a whole movie with Alita working her way up the Motorball ranks, with Nova puppeteering the opposition. And, at the end, either Alita "enters the elevator" (in parallel to her going up the space elevator at the start of Last Order), or else he says "nah, just kidding" and forbids her access to Zalem.

Another interesting direction is to recycle some of the Chaos/barjack background by have Alita co-opting the rebellion to get her access to Zalem and Nova.


I've made a start into the pre-quel novel. It's hard going. It's not well written and does things with the source material I find painful. But I think it does give an insight into the changes they have made to the world and, if I finish it, and then read the movie novel, might give an insight into where it is going. I'll do a data dump here when I'm done, but for now the biggest world-change has to do with why people get cybernetics. In the manga, it's because it's cheaper to replace a biological injury with a cybernetic part. In the movie it's because they are "better" and people want to "get ahead". It changes a lot of dynamics and motivations in ways I don't like. But I'll have to see how far it goes.

[MrFaber]

About the chances for a sequel, i've been following the boxoffice results closely.

At the moment Mojo sets the gross little above 260 millions of dollars, which is a remarkable first class result for a movie, but it's not even nearly enough for A:BA. The movie production was 170 millions, the marketing have been extimated arouns 80 million, and it's already 250 millions of dollars. Then you need to add the costs of distribuition and of marketing during the time it's on screen and the percentage for the theaters.

Some expert have stated that the gross needed to go even for A:BA should be about 400 millions. 260 is still far.

Yet 260 is the gross from last week end, with just 2 days from the chinese open, which is going to be the main foreign gross, and a very partial account from even those 2 days (which, if i don't recall bad, have been exteemated in 65 millions) and we still have no new from japan where the movie debuted even later.

If there will be a sequel (meaning if the movie will break through 400 millions) will be more or less determined on sunday the 3rd.
Looking foreward for the date.



About the ending of the Alita Movies Univers, i believe it will be very different from what we are reading on the manga. So far the movie have been quite close to the source material, but what have been set seems to diverge greatly already from the (hopefully) next movie.

And i wouldn't be mad about it. If it's a good story we can enjoy another story too.

[MrFaber]

Latest data are maybe little above 300 and the drop from week to week is huge. The movie is soon to be out of the theaters. Say bye bye to the sequel i fear...

[Neksus]

Say bye bye to the sequel...

Spoiler:

[MrFaber]

Today's box office new data is really WOW. Our beloved warrior never gives up and the movie reached 350millions officially going even. From now one, whatever remains in theaters is going to build pure profit. Maybe the last word haven't been yet said for the sequel.

Yet it's steep cliff to climb. Alita: Battle Angel is a Fox brand. Disney bought Fox. Disney doesn't want inner challenges to its may brands, like, for istance, the infamous Cpt. Marvel.

We'll see.

[MrFaber]

It would probably be more accurate to quote this:

That wouldn’t be bad if 20th Century Fox’s estimate of needing between $350 million and $400 million to break even is accurate, but other sources (via Deadline) say the movie might need $500 million or more for the movie to turn a profit.

But fox stated, maybe optimistically, that their even quote would have been 350 million. If the movie menages to stay in theaters another week.. let's cross fingers.

[MrFaber]

And this week results go as high as 360million. I would say that a last minute miracle won't be happening. This weekend will be the last sparkle. Something has still to arrive would wide and maybe someone will take serious the "Alita challenge" of tonight (go si Alita, not Cpt.Marvel, basically) but at this point the final score will maybe arrive to 380million.

You fought well, Gally, and you arrived a lot more distant then anyone believed. Let's hope this was enough.

[Neksus]

And this week results go as high as 360million. I would say that a last minute miracle won't be happening. This weekend will be the last sparkle. Something has still to arrive would wide and maybe someone will take serious the "Alita challenge" of tonight (go si Alita, not Cpt.Marvel, basically) but at this point the final score will maybe arrive to 380million.

You fought well, Gally, and you arrived a lot more distant then anyone believed. Let's hope this was enough.

You're wrong.
At least China's box offise got 64m first weekend and 49m second,this week will be third and drop is wery little so maybe 30-40mln just from China. Also... https://mobile.twitter.com/1K_YL/status ... 3099464710
last sparkle everywhere but China. Thx to asian fellas

[MrFaber]

Let's hope for China to save this movie then. According to Mojo China already grossed 113milion by itself already and the data is not even updated.

[MrFaber]

And by the way, my apologies for the sad italian $2,357,542 gross. I guess it's not easy to promote a movie in italy which hasn't even one fart in it.

[Neksus]

China did only 14m this week... this is a disaster. i want to cry.
Even with flaws i liked this movie and want a sequel

[MrFaber]

but at this point the final score will maybe arrive to 380million.

At least it surpassed my expectations

[jjaquinta]

There was a big Roller Derby tournament in Boston this weekend (The Lobstah Roll) and they all went to see a film together. But they went to Captain Marvel, not Alita. I think they would have enjoyed Alita a lot more.

[Martin]

I think we are in Pacific Rim movie math land. That first one shouldn't have gotten a sequel was the word. Alita's buzz is good, people like it, so fingers crossed. Maybe they can save some money and make the sequel with real girl's face...just be like.."O upgrade".

I LOVED the original manga ending but I like it better given the time to see more of the world. Lots of pieces in there have been reused so it is fun to see that.