Within WWE, unofficially the blame is being placed on Lion’s Gate for relying too heavily on just WWE to promote The Condemned. There didn’t seem to be much advertisement for The Condemned outside of WWE’s media platforms. There is also a belief that so many fans rented the DVD of The Marine that they’re content doing the same for The Condemned. WWE will likely now seek out a PG or PG-13 script, rather than the R-rated script of The Condemned. The hope is that will attract more kids and families, who were squeezed out of seeing The Condemned, but were able to see “The Marine,” which did the best of the three WWE films so far. See No Evil, also rated R, drew similar opening weekend numbers as “The Condemned,” so there may be something to that theory.
Steve Austin’s attitude is said to be “disappointment,” mixed with determination to find a better project for his second film. Because he has a three-film deal, he knows he has two more chances to succeed.
