This is commonplace in Hollywood, where new production executives do not like projects developed by their predecessors or where new screenplay drafts take an idea in a different direction.

If any studio, such as Warner Bros. or Paramount, is interested in pursuing the project, they will reimburse Sony (Columbia) for all of its costs to date annd then develop the film the way they see it. Sony will also retain a net participation in the film as a hedge against it being successful at the box office.