<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $284.1 million </Td> </Tr> <P> John Carter is a 2012 American science fiction action film directed by Andrew Stanton from a screenplay written by Stanton, Mark Andrews, and Michael Chabon . The film was produced by Jim Morris, Colin Wilson, and Lindsey Collins, and is based on A Princess of Mars, the first book in the Barsoom series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs . John Carter stars Taylor Kitsch in the title role, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, and Willem Dafoe . The film chronicles the first interplanetary adventure of John Carter and his attempts to mediate civil unrest amongst the warring kingdoms of Barsoom . </P> <P> Several developments on a theatrical film adaptation of the Barsoom series emerged throughout the 20th century from various major studios and producers, with the earliest attempt dating back to the 1930s . Most of these efforts, however, ultimately stalled in development hell . In the late - 2000s, Walt Disney Pictures began a concerted effort to develop a film adaptation of Burroughs' works, after a previously - abandoned venture by the studio in the 1980s . The project was driven by Stanton, who had pressed Disney to renew the screen rights from the Burroughs estate . Stanton became director in 2009; this was his live - action debut, as his previous directorial work for Disney included the Pixar animated films, Finding Nemo (2003) and WALL - E (2008). Filming began in November 2009, with principal photography underway in January 2010, wrapping seven months later in July 2010 . Michael Giacchino composed the film's musical score . </P> <P> John Carter was released in the United States on March 9, 2012, marking the centennial of the titular character's first appearance . The film was presented in Disney Digital 3 - D, RealD 3D, IMAX 3D, and conventional formats . Upon release, John Carter received a mixed critical reception, with praise for its visuals, Micheal Giacchino's soundtrack and action sequences, but criticism toward the characterization and plot . The film flopped at the North American box office, but set an opening - day record in Russia . It grossed $284 million at the worldwide box office, resulting in a $200 million writedown for Disney, against total production and marketing costs of $350 million . Due to the film's poor box office performance, Disney cancelled any plans for a sequel (titled John Carter: The Gods of Mars) and trilogy Stanton had planned . </P>

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