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It’s hard to believe that when THE TRUMAN SHOW opened 28 years ago it was an early summer release.

Paramount launched TRUMAN June 5, 1998, but it’s unlikely a studio would give such an unusual film a prime early summer date today. TRUMAN was to have opened Aug. 8, 1997, which would have been good  late summer timing for a specialized dramedy with awards potential. Then it was pushed back to Nov. 14, an even better slot for an Oscar contender.

But then it was bumped to the following summer, supposedly to allow for more post-production time — but also ensuring that TRUMAN didn’t wind up competing in 1998’s Oscar race against Paramount’s mega-contender TITANIC. That proved to be smart awards strategizing. TITANIC sailed away with 11 Oscars, including picture & directing.

TRUMAN didn’t resonate very well, however, with Academy voters the following year. Director Peter Weir was Oscar nominated, but was the only directing nominee who didn’t also have a best picture nod. Weir also received an original screenplay nom and a supporting actor nom went to Ed Harris. It lost in all categories.

Although Weir was well regarded for directing WITNESS (1985) with Harrison Ford & DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989) with Robin Williams, some bolder faced names had been considered before he was signed — including Tim Burton, Brian De Palma & Steven Spielberg.

Weir was hired in early 1995 after a strong recommendation from writer & co-producer Andrew Niccol, whose screenwriting deal had provided that he’d also direct. Paramount, however, decided TRUMAN’s estimated $80M budget absolutely required an A-List director — and the studio happily paid Niccol to agree.

Jim Carrey was Weir’s first choice to star. He cast him after watching ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE (1994), saying Carrey reminded him of Chaplin. But Carrey’s role in TRUMAN was a far cry from what fans of his hit comedies like LIAR, LIAR (1997) and ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS (1995) expected to see him in.

The character Truman Burbank had lived for some 30 years without knowing that his entire life since his corporate adoption at birth, following an unwanted pregnancy, was a carefully staged reality TV show in a world that was just an elaborate set. Carrey agreed to take a $12M payday instead of his usual $20M, helping Weir bring TRUMAN in for just $60M.

TRUMAN opened to a then terrific $31.5M and wound up doing $125.6M domestic & $264.1M worldwide, which was good business at the time. Critics loved it, giving it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. When Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert reviewed TRUMAN on their popular syndicated show, they gave it two thumbs up. Better yet, they also apologized to Carrey for having predicted after seeing ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE that he had no future making movies.