In hindsight, several Universal executives said, the studio's lack of flexibility was especially damaging.

"Mike is going for bigger issues," said one Universal executive.

Several Universal executives say that with the accounting transaction, the movie's cost is viewed as $12 million.

"Because of this transaction we'll make money," said one Universal executive.

Still, a Universal executive said, "Money makes people do extraordinary things."

Research showed that "women don't like the movie," one Universal executive said.

A Universal executive said he had been working at the studio for a month.

A Universal executive asked me, 'Where's the threat in that?

A Universal executive declined to comment about the incident.

"In some ways it's traumatic for the agency," one Universal executive said.