Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Summer Movie Season 2020 is all but history.
As was anticipated, the COVID-19 pandemic tied Warner Bros’. hands too tightly as they have gone ahead and delayed Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” yet again. Except, this time, there is no new release date. By all accounts, “Tenet” is delayed indefinitely.
The WB confirmed [via Variety] that Nolan’s new film, which was originally set for release on July 17 before getting delayed to July 31 and then August 12, is now completely off the grid for 2020, with a new date coming “imminently,” according to the studio.
“We will share a new 2020 release date imminently for ‘Tenet,’ Christopher Nolan’s wholly original and mind-blowing feature,” said Warner Bros. boss Toby Emmerich. “We are not treating ‘Tenet’ like a traditional global day-and-date release, and our upcoming marketing and distribution plans will reflect that.”
He added, “Our goals throughout this process have been to ensure the highest odds of success for our films while also being ready to support our theater partners with new content as soon as they could safely reopen. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from exhibitors and remain steadfast in our commitment to the theatrical experience around the world. Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to proliferate, causing us to reevaluate our release dates.”
So, Summer 2021 it is?
However, notice Emmerich saying “traditional day-and-date release.” Are they going to be releasing the film internationally first before North America? A report just last week hinted at the WB wanting to release “Tenet” in Europe before US cinemas, but Nolan quickly nixed the idea.
As we enter the fall, look for more titles to be delayed, the 2020 movie season as a whole has been demolished by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no normalcy coming until some kind of containment, either via vaccine or a low number of cases/deaths, is achieved. We’re not even in a state of limbo anymore, we all know where this is going, the best movies this year will likely be seen at home, on your television set, via VOD or Netflix or Amazon etc. You don’t have to like it, but welcome to the new normal.
For months, people close to CEO David Ellison had hinted that he would leave if state AGs didn't drop their antitrust suit against the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger.