FLOP OFFICE
Piers Morgan takes another pop at David Beckham over King Arthur box office flop on Good Morning Britain
The GMB host isn't a fan of Beckham's movie debut
PIERS Morgan has taken another pop at David Beckham after King Arthur flopped at the box office.
The Good Morning Britain host took just minutes to lambast the former footballer, joking that his cameo in the film was the reason for its lacklustre box office performance.
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"Unfortunately King Arthur has sunk like a stone at the box office, apparently bringing a dramatic shuddering halt to the Beckham movie career."
He added: "If you put someone front and centre like that, that's the problem isn't it, he does get the blame. If he's like, 'I'm now a movie star' and it tanks. Anyway, thoughts with David at this difficult time."
It comes as it was revealed the franchise is set to be scrapped, after his new movie Legend of the Sword became the biggest box office flop of the year.
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Studio Warner Brothers had initially planned a six-film King Arthur series, with Charlie Hunnam in the leading role alongside Jude Law, Aidan Gillen and Eric Bana.
But the debut instalment, which cost a massive £135million, made just £12million in its opening weekend at the US box office - one of the worst openings ever for a big-budget studio event film.
Over £75million was spent on marketing the film. Movie insiders are now predicting the film could make a £100million loss.
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A Hollywood source revealed: “The King Arthur franchise is dead.
“These figures are a total disaster for Warner and Guy Ritchie. It’s one of the biggest film flops in recent memory.”
King Arthur – which marks David Beckham’s first speaking part in a movie – is released in the UK this Friday and has been slammed by critics, with one describing it as “a vulgar movie for vulgar times”.
The timing is bad for Ritchie, whose last major Hollywood movie The Man From U.N.C.L.E. also flopped.
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He is also behind the dud movies Revolver in 2005 and Swept Away, starring then wife Madonna, in 2002.
His successes include Sherlock Holmes, Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
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He is currently working on Disney’s big budget live action re-make of Aladdin.
Warner Bros executive Jeff Goldstein admitted: “The concept didn’t resonate with a broad audience, and we’re disappointed. We had higher hopes.”
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