Hollywood
Wonder Woman 1984 to premiere in theatres & on HBO Max
KOLKATA: After several protracted delays, Warner Bros superhero tentpole Wonder Woman 1984 is set to premiere in US movie theatres and on HBO Max on 25 December, in a Christmas present to fans of the franchise. The film will debut one week earlier in international markets where HBO Max is not available.
“The film will be available for one month on HBO Max in the US at no additional cost to subscribers. After that it is understood it will be taken off the platform and continue to play exclusively in whichever cinemas are open,” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar wrote in a blog.
Wonder Woman 1984 was expected to be one of the biggest films of 2020, and was slated to hit theatres after this summer. However, the release has been deferred many times due to the Covid2019 crisis.
“As we navigate these unprecedented times, we’ve had to be innovative in keeping our businesses moving forward while continuing to super-serve our fans,” WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff said.
The move, though a highly welcome one for fans, is somewhat unprecedented for Warner Bros, which in September ensured an exclusively theatrical opening for its big ticket release Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film turned out to be a dud at the US box office, earning $56 million over two months, as compared to production cost of $200 million. Luckily for the studio, Tenet fared much better internationally, raking in more than $350 million worldwide.
The dual platform release of Wonder Woman 1984 could spark a trend, with other studios making their biggest titles available in cinema halls and streaming services simultaneously. For instance, Disney's Black Widow is currently scheduled for theatrical release in May 2021, a full year after its original date. While CEO Bob Chapek has come on record to say that the company was pleased with the "premiere access" release of Mulan to Disney+, no such plans regarding Black Widow have been made public yet.
Hollywood
Disney unifies streaming, film, TV and games under Dana Walden
Debra O’Connell to chair Disney Entertainment Television in new setup
LOS ANGELES: The Walt Disney Company is pressing play on a more tightly woven future. As audiences hop between cinema screens, streaming apps and game worlds, the media giant is stitching its storytelling arms into one coordinated machine under Dana Walden.
Set to take charge as president and chief creative officer on March 18, Walden will oversee a newly unified Disney Entertainment structure that brings together streaming, film, television and the company’s fast-expanding games and digital business. She will report directly to incoming chief executive officer Josh D’Amaro.
The thinking is simple. Whether viewers are watching on Disney+, heading to the cinema or diving into a game, Disney wants the experience to feel like chapters of the same story. Walden summed it up as strengthening the emotional thread between Disney’s characters and its audiences, wherever they choose to engage.
The leadership reshuffle reads like a carefully cast ensemble. Alan Bergman continues as chairman of Disney Entertainment, studios, steering film production, marketing and distribution while sharing oversight of direct to consumer.
Streaming gets a dual command. Joe Earley and Adam Smith step in as co-presidents of direct to consumer, jointly handling strategy and financial performance across Disney+ and Hulu. Earley will also guide content strategy, while Smith retains his role as chief product and technology officer across Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
A new chair enters the frame with Debra O’Connell taking on the role of chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. She will oversee an expansive slate that includes ABC Entertainment, National Geographic and Hulu Originals, while continuing to supervise ABC News and owned stations.
Gaming, once a side quest, is now a central storyline. Sean Shoptaw, executive vice president, games and digital entertainment, moves into the Disney Entertainment fold. His remit includes partnerships such as the collaboration with Epic Games, aimed at building a Disney universe linked to Fortnite.
Elsewhere, John Landgraf remains chairman of FX, reporting to Walden, while Asad Ayaz continues as chief marketing and brand officer, reporting to both D’Amaro and Walden.
The message behind the reshuffle is clear. Disney is no longer thinking in silos of screens but in stories that travel. And with Walden at the creative helm, the company is betting that a single, seamless narrative can keep audiences hooked, whether they are watching, scrolling or playing.
