Christopher Nolan “Pushing Hard" to Have Tenet Released in July

Christopher Nolan seems to think that his next movie “Tenet” still has a shot at being released in July. that according to IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond. [via SeekingAlpha].

Gelfond mentioned Nolan’s fervent opinion during this morning’s IMAX earnings conference call:

“Certain filmmakers are very anxious to have their movies released. I don’t know anyone in America who is pushing harder than Chris Nolan to have the theaters open and to have his movie released in July when it’s scheduled for.”

In late March, Nolan had penned an op-ed for the Washington Post, writing that “it’s vital to acknowledge the prompt and responsible decisions made by all kinds of companies across our country that have closed their doors” and that “as a filmmaker, my work can never be complete without those workers and the audiences they welcome.”

The majority of the big studio April, May, June, and July movies have been rescheduled to later dates, those include “Wonder Woman 1984”, “Mulan” and “No Time To Die.” While others, much to the chagrin of theater chains, have decided to skip theatrical altogether and go straight to VOD (“Trolls: World Tour”, “Scoob!” “The King of Staten Island” and “Artemis Fowl”).

How could movie theaters possibly start reopening by July? Gelfond mentioned a social distancing and safety measures plan which might include limited seating capacity in every theater showing “Tenet.”

“One exhibitor is talking about every other seat at the beginning or every other row. Another exhibitor is talking about a new software program which allows families to stay together in every other seat,” he said. “The process of reopening theaters will be measured and will acquire time for the industry to build the type of theater-going momentum capable of supporting a blockbuster release. But first we expect theaters to reopen with promotional pricing and library content.”n on when to reopen subject to government regulation and how to reopen.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, a relentless global assault via one of the most contagious flu-like viruses we’ve ever seen, is set for a wildly unpredictable outcome. It’s only been 6 weeks since the entire world started shutting down its businesses, including movie theaters, for an indefinite amount of time. The virus has since spread like wildfire to over 190 countries.

Despite Gelfond’s optimism, he’s not being realistic. The Imax head honcho’s positive outlook is merely wishful thinking. If anything, Sony pulling the plug on their films was as close to a red alert signal as we’re going to get that we should start planning to completely scratch off the 2020 summer movie season.

Of course, there could, all of a sudden, through the magic of science, appear a vaccine that completely changes the game, but, even with a fast-tracked one possibly coming along in September, that would still mean no summer movies. Another best-case-scenario would involve the virus dying amidst the severe humidity of summer, but some experts say the virus is too new, and it’s too early in the season, to determine how it’s affected by weather and climate.

Other than the two scenarios above coming to fruition, we are most likely going to be in dire cinematic straits this summer. Once Nolan’s “Tenet,” one of the last blockbuster summer titles left to be postponed, is inevitably rescheduled, then the harsh reality will set in and our efforts to save an entire film industry for a three-month period will feel like an unrealistic proposition.

In all likelihood, the summer movie season is canceled. The faster people start to realize that, the less likely we’ll be pondering this question in the coming weeks. It’s no longer a matter of if, but when. The stakes are too high for us to be in a darkened theater come July, with hundreds of people cramped up next to each other, as we watch the latest Christopher Nolan movie. Imagine, all of a sudden, as the on-screen action intensifies, the person next to you starts to have a coughing fit. Would that ruin your experience?