Image credit: The Island Premiere: Stephen Chernin/AP

Two weeks before The Island is due in theaters, Bay is still working on last-minute tweaks (test audiences didn't like the ending, and a last-minute scene between McGregor and Bean had to be shot to amp up the finale). One thing that's worrying Bay: Tracking data have shown that The Island is not high in the minds of potential audiences — not when compared with Bay's past efforts, at least. People have lots of explanations for the lackluster interest — the title is too ambiguous, the idea too complicated, the summer too full of other sci-fi flicks, McGregor and Johansson not big enough stars — but that doesn't stop Bay from fretting about it. And, if they're smart, the studio is fretting about it too. Not only do they have a big chunk of change on the line, but if the man who proudly epitomizes the basest Hollywood instinct — screw the critics, let's make millions! — can't guarantee box office, the movie industry may be in even more trouble than everyone thought.

The worst-reviewed billion-dollar director in Hollywood gets up from the picnic table where he's been sitting, smooths his jeans, and offers a pensive look. ''I don't know what's going to happen with this one,'' Bay says, stretching his long legs. ''I really don't. I just hope people like it.'' And with that, he smiles into the brilliant California sun and heads back to the editing room to do what he does best. Blow some more stuff up.

(This is an online-only excerpt of Entertainment Weekly's July 22, 2005, cover story.)

Originally posted Jul 12, 2005 Published in issue #830 Jul 22, 2005 Order article reprints
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