So in a shocking bit of news Warner Brothers the studio that a couple months ago was like Tenet is going to theaters come hell or high water just made an announcement that destroys the theatrical window and potentially changes movie going forever.
And interestingly enough puts the ball in Disney’s court concerning the streaming wars.
Basically they’ve announced they are day and dating all of their slate next year. That includes Matrix 4, The Suicide Squad, Dune, etc.
Now this is only domestically as far as I can tell. HBOMax isn’t available in all areas but I’m guessing will be pretty soon. And I don’t think it means the end of the theater going experience.
For me it means I can watch and enjoy the movies around a shifting work schedule (if I still have one) and without the unfortunate audiences but also that I can and will happily watch Dune in theaters first and then go home and watch it more carefully and slowly taking in all the Oscar and Jason goodness!
And while I can see the downside (rampant piracy) it’s not like the movies won’t be in theaters at all. They’re just giving us a choice (at least in the states) of where and how to watch them next year. But this is really about the streaming wars as much as anything and since Disney has already come out and said Disney+ is where we’re putting everything this really puts the ball in their court for next weeks Disney+ day.
I think there going to have to come up with something better than the unconfirmed but already out there casting announcements (Kate Bishop is actually on set already) for the Marvel shows, the Ahsoka show and who knows how much more Marvel and Star Wars content.
But Disney+ is a story for another day.