Report: Flop '47 Ronin' to lose $175 million

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Keanu Reeves' starring role in the samurai epic 47 Ronin could lead to a reported $175 million loss for Universal Pictures after an anemic holiday opening.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Universal Pictures might be able to recoup only its minor marketing budget for the troubled film, leaving the estimated $175 million production cost exposed.

The film, by first-time feature director Carl Rinsch, opened poorly in the crowded holiday film box office, taking in $20 million worldwide.

Universal saw the trouble ahead for the film, which was originally set to open November 2012. Universal took the unusual step and wrote down the potential loss in previous quarters.

This minimized the impact for Universal's highly profitable year, still a success thanks to the animated hit Despicable Me 2 and the box office smash Fast & Furious 6.

47 Ronin tells the story of a half-Japanese former slave (Reeves), who joins a band of outcast samurai to avenge the death of their master against a vicious warlord.