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 chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
