It seems Seagal's move to TV was obviously in part financially motivated, but also because the movie offers were becoming less frequent and less interesting. As is clear, the economic troubles in the last 5 years have really hit the movie industry. Where-as before, Seagal could do 3-4 films a year at 4-5 million dollars salary each, it's just not the case now.
I mean looking at Dolph Lundgren as an example. In recent times he's become more of a supporting actor, appearing in 4-5 movies a year. In part because he finds these roles more interesting, and also in part because if he does 4 movies a year, it's 4 paycheques.
DTV studios have become wise now. They know that even if they have SS, JCVD, DL etc, on board for 5 days of shooting out of a 3-4 week shoot (even a four week shot is a rarity now). They can sell the movie off their names. Universal Soldier 4 for example is sold in most territories with DL and JC taking center stage on the posters and covers. Even though JC shot for about 5 days, and Dolph for just over a week, and both have supporting roles.
So I guess that if Seagal recognises this trend, and sees that less and less money is being spent on these films, then it's no wonder he's reluctant to do as many feature films as previous years. It probably says something about the standard of script coming to him, regarding his roles, the budgets, the salary offered, that he's only doing 1 feature a year of late. If you look back between 03-10 and the standard of most of those films, there were some god awful films.
It's kind of good to hear from Seagal that he does have some standards still. That he's still got some ambition left in movies. It's tough though. Dolph has had interesting supporting roles of late. It's been good for him as an actor, even in films like Stash House which, Dolph aside, were pretty terrible. But he's been kind of jobbing and has left behind more personal projects like Skin Trade, or his WW2 Spy film, Nordic Light.
As Seagal is finding with some of his films, and Under Siege 3, it's all about funding. Trying to get the funding for the film to be done right.
I want an Under Siege 3. To me it's better than doing a string of average Waxman films (which granted is better than a string of horrid films like Attack Force, Black Dawn etc). It would still be a straight to video film, but it's a high end straight to vid. You could call films like these the blockbusters of the straight to vid world. Universal Soldier has 4 films, and a 5th in the works. There's a fanbase there, and an easily identifiable name that makes it stand out from just a standard solo JCVD project, or a solo Dolph project. Even 3 and 4 both had limited theatrical release (number 4 slightly less limited). So that could also happen with a third Under Siege. I guess the main sticking point for Seagal has been that he wants it done right. They need a strong director. If not him, someone like Roel Reine or John Hyams perhaps, who'll make a 15 million budget look bigger than it is. If Seagal goes for something a little like The Raid, it could work well. And you sense (hope) that if he returns as Ryback he won't half ass it.
Just like the biggest films around right now, the box office power houses, the film market is largely dominated by sequels and remakes. Established brands make the most money. So it makes sense for Steven to bring back Ryback. Here is the thing though. Money. I don't think he'll do it unless it's got enough funding in place, by people who will treat the film right. Seagal has an ego. He won't want to look bad doing US3. If it comes out and is utterly horrendous it'll get him a lot of stick. It's not like Attack Force where only fans of his and action movies will notice. More people will notice a crappy Under Siege.
So if I were Seagal I'd take whatever role Stallone will offer him. He's got to appear in Expendables 3. It brings his profile back up. It reminds people he's still around. Firstly he'll get more offers (for better and worse) following it. Lundgren has worked solidly since Expendables in all kinds of projects, and been offered more interesting roles off the back of proving capable with Gunnar Jensen. If Seagal appears in Exp 3, gets some favourable press and the movie is another hit, then getting funding for Under Siege 3 suddenly becomes a little easier. It's whether he can think that logically regarding his career. I wouldn't want his ego to stand in the way. It would be needs must really. It depends how badly he wants to do Siege 3.
