Why Did David O. Russell Drop Out Of 'Pride & Prejudice & Zombies'?

The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog reports that the decision by Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell to drop out of the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies film came down to a simple matter of budget... or a lack thereof.

“I thought at $40 to $50 million was a bargain price to make a “Sherlock Holmes”-style period action romance that happened to have zombies in it,” Russell said. “The studio budgeted it as a genre zombie movie and gave me $25 to $28 million. I was like, that’s not cool."

Fresh on the heels of multiple Academy Award nominations for his film The Fighter, including his own nod for Best Director, Russell just might have any easier time getting the budgets he wants now.