We’ve heard the line from Entourage producer Mark Wahlberg about when the long-planned big-screen version of the HBO comedy can actually start shooting: “As soon as them guys stop being so greedy.” Wahlberg, though, may sit alone on his side of compensation negotiations.
The popular series that debuted in 2004 has everything in place for a spinoff movie, except commitments from the Entourage stars. Well, most of them, that is. Producers have signed on one of the fab five, and therein lies the rub. At least that is the way an Instagram posts portray it.
Jeremy Piven, who plays agent Ari Gold (based off real-life agent Ari Emanuel), signed his Warner Bros. movie deal just a few weeks ago. And the terms of that contract seems to have upset co-stars Adrian Grenier (Vinny), Kevin Dillon (“Drama”), Kevin Connolly (“E”), and Jerry Ferrara (“Turtle”). They want Piven-sized money. And they aren’t getting it.
The Hollywood Reporter says Piven, because of his status as an actor before the show debuted, has always made a bit more than his co-stars and the same may be true when it comes to producers Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson making deals on the movie.
We get a little proof-filled pudding from Instragram. After Wahlberg’s now well-quoted greed line on Oct. 15, Grenier took to Instagram to write, “I will sign any deal that gives ALL the boys an opportunity to share in the upside of success EQUALLY.”
We can’t have an Entourage movie without a proper entourage. But with a budget capped at $30 million, we may need Emanual—he actually does rep Doug Ellin, the film’s writer-director—to step into the negotiating room.