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Comments
It sounds like good news.
Let's just get NTTD out first!
It doesn't have to but this is a $250 million dollar movie. $30 million has already gone down the drain due to wasted April marketing costs. If Universal want to open into socially distanced but open theatres, then go for it. It isn't my money. If a botched non lucrative release puts the continuation of the series in doubt then so be it it. We'll always have 25 films to enjoy.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/heat-vision/bill-ted-face-music-hit-vod-cinemas-simultaneously-1304065
Still VOD is not a sustainable option for MGM, who paid for the film. Bond is their only billion dollars asset and they don’t have other blockbuster of this scale down the pipeline like Universal, Disney or WB.
To date, Disney hasn’t announced that Mulan would be shifting from its current Aug. 21 release date, and there’s speculation by a number of those in exhibition (and here by AMC) as well as rival studios that the movie won’t necessarily move, rather follow a course where it opens where it can around the country and the world.
https://deadline.com/2020/07/amc-theatres-new-reopening-date-coronavirus-tenet-1202992874/
MGM may also need cash sooner rather than later... there will be tipping points for companies.
https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/star-wars-films-avatar-sequels-pushed-back-a-year-in-disney-release-calendar-shakeup-1234715104/
I‘d say a further official delay for NTTD will happen in a matter of weeks.
Our only hope for seeing NTTD via VOD would be if Apple, Netflix or Amazon bought MGM out specifically to grab headline content like that for their own streaming services. But it would be huge price tag. And seems unlikely, given Bond's touchstone meaning to cinema and longtime relationships with exhibitors.
It would be the real shot across the bow that says the previous era is done.
And it would be amazing.
Which is why I can't see it happening.
Nobody could ever buy Bond from MGM. That's why it would probably be smarter to just buy MGM whole. It's not just for exclusive streaming rights to franchises (after a proper theatrical window, I should stress), but at least backed by a major company like Apple, MGM would have more resources. They wouldn't have to negotiate co-production with other studios like Sony and Universal. Under Apple, they could potentially make the films again, expand their UA distribution program.
The problem is MGM. Even if EON wanted to crank out Bond films at a rapid rate like Cubby's days, they're still under MGM, which needs help from other co-production companies like Sony and Universal in order to put any of these out there. In case everyone forgot, the first deal with Sony originally expired after QOS. From that point, MGM was on their own, but then they went bankrupt, and EON was forced to put Bond 23 on hiatus. Hence a four years passing before we get SF. Then after SP the Sony deal expires again, and it's being run by Tom "Deadpool will never be a hit" Rothman. EON was hoping to find a new co-production company soon after SP, but it took until 2017 to finally happened, but it's a one film deal with Universal because they only want to do it if it has Craig, and he only agreed to do one more.
So before pre-production work can even begin for Bond 26, NTTD needs to make some bank for MGM to stay in business. Then MGM and EON need to shop around for another co-production studio, but this time the studios are going to be VERY opinionated on who will be cast as Bond before putting THEIR money on a production/distribution deal. The reason why Sony's Amy Pascal was such a big ally for EON was because she was going to support EON's choice of Daniel Craig, whereas any other studio head might have balked at that choice. This will likely elongate the casting process, thus pushing back the film further.
This is why MGM being bought out by a big company could make things potentially smoother for EON. Perhaps a deal with Apple that Bond would still get traditional theatrical releases, but they would have exclusive streaming rights for the franchise on Apple TV+, along with all other MGM catalog. It would essentially be the AppleMGM. No longer just a small office with people begging other studios to do more remakes of their catalog that nobody will go to.
https://deadline.com/2020/07/quiet-place-2-top-gun-2-moving-to-2021-1202993889/
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Without Remorse has been sold to Amazon for a straight to VOD release.
The film was due for a wide theatrical release in February 2021.
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/michael-b-jordan-without-remorse-amazon-1234714715/
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Antlers delayed to February 2021.
The French Dispatch has been delayed indefinitely.
Ridley Scott's The Last Duel delayed to October 2021.
You know, Apple might be willing to do that, in order to buy street cred for their streaming service. And then Apple could release B26 however they wanted. As odd as it sounds, B25 could be a loss leader...but not for MGM/Eon, for Apple.
No new movies releasing in July.
Unhinged was indefinitely delayed a few days ago.
Two movies still have wide theatrical releases in August:
The horror film Antebellum on the 21st.
The New Mutants on the 28th.
Two movies still have wide theatrical releases in September:
The Liam Neeson action/thriller Honest Thief on the 4th.
The King's Man on the 18th.
A late October release looks like a prime empty space at the moment. The Batman opens on October 1st, Halloween Kills on October 15th, and then no big blockbuster until Fantastic Beasts 3 on November 12th and Mission Impossible 7 on November 19th. I think of those currently dated films, Fantastic Beasts is likely to be pushed to 2022, making even more room for NTTD.
I wonder if MI7 will make it given the current situation. They have to film two movies, not just one.
If the global situation is still looking grim by November/December, then yes MI7/MI8 will both be delayed to summer 2022/summer 2023 respectively.
I think EON are waiting to see what WB decides for Tenet. IMO the late August international release/early September domestic release is still wishful thinking. I believe WB will delay Tenet to October 2nd, and push Wonder Woman 1984 to 2021. And Tenet will have to be pushed to 2021 too at one point.