MB you also made an interesting point in a different post about how scripts are typically rewritten by other writers. I find that interesting. John August had a vision of what the DS movie should look like. Now it seems it's totally out of his hands and parts of his script is/are being rewritten by people from GK films. I would like to know if Johnny Depp and/or TB asked that revisions be made or if GK thinks changes need to be made although he now says he hasn't read the script. I thought I read that JD received or was about to receive the script so does it mean that he sent it back or it never got to him? I don't understand if what would happen if August doesn't agree with the subsequent changes-is it still a John August screenplay and the other writers get credit.
The rules for who gets screenplay credit for what are all laid down in the Writers' Guild of America's
Screen Credits Manual. I haven't read it, but I seem to recall reading when instances of credit have been at issue that it's based on things like what percentage of the script a writer or writers actually wrote and how much of his/her/their concepts are contained in it. Anyone who's really interested in reading up on the rules should click on the link I've provided.
As for who asked for the changes, that's anyone's guess. It could have been Depp, Burton, King, or any combination of them. We know both Depp and Burton have been closely involved with the script because we know August has had meetings with them. So, if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say that it was most likely Depp and/or Burton who feels the changes are necessary. But if we ever do find out what they've wanted changed, it probably won't be until after the film is completed...
Many films in development never get made because of script issues and I hope that in this case it is not a serious one but it could be.
Going by what we've heard and seen in the past, I wouldn't think the issues with the script are project killing. We've been led to believe that the script is almost where they want it - and it is Depp himself who has said that - and his body language in the video didn't appear to be deceptive in any way. He believed what he was saying. It's not like he said the script sucks and he wouldn't do it even if they paid him a $1M.
And though that's a joke, it actually does reflect the attitude of the talent when a film dies in script development. Producers and studios might spin, but the talent hardly ever does because they're the ones that are on screen.