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“A Grave Mistake”: 2023 Movie Delays Spark Ominous Warnings From Theater Owners To Studios-TGN

Summary

  • Theater owners are concerned about potential delays in 2023 movies due to the SAG-AFTRA strike and believe it could harm their business.

  • The delay of major releases would be detrimental to theaters as they are just recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The inability of actors to promote their projects and the refusal of AMPTP to negotiate with SAG-AFTRA could lead studios to consider delaying their fall releases, which theater owners warn would damage the movie industry.

Potential 2023 movie delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA spark ominous warnings from theater owners to studios. On July 13, SAG-AFTRA went on strike (joining the Writers Guild of America) following failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over fair pay, streaming residuals, and the regulation of AI. The actors’ strike, which prevents performers from promoting their projects, has caused the studios to delay many of their releases for the latter half of 2023.

Multiple theater owners spoke to Variety about the debilitating effects the 2023 movie delays could have on their business. Bow Tie Cinemas COO Joe Masher says Barbie and Oppenheimer are sustaining them for now, though he is worried about the future, especially since the industry just recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris Randleman, CRO of the Texas-based Flix Brewhouse chain, says “the studios would be making a grave mistake moving major parts of their slate out of 2023.” Greg Marcus, CEO of Marcus Theatres, shared a slightly more positive outlook on the situation. Read their comments below:

Masher: We are enjoying this party and don’t know what comes next. If the strike drags on, we are seriously concerned. We just got through the pandemic.

Randleman: The studios would be making a grave mistake moving major parts of their slate out of 2023, and it would be a severe blow to theaters right as we are getting back on our feet. The industry can’t take another round of massive date shifts. It will hurt everyone.

Marcus: I don’t think it’s helpful that late-night talk shows can’t air. It’s hard to promote without them. Is this a great thing? No. But it’s not comparable to the pandemic. When the actors are on strike, people aren’t stuck at home in lockdown.

Every 2023 Movie That’s Been Delayed Due To The SAG-AFTRA Strike

So far, Sony has made the most significant changes to its release calendar, pushing Gran Turismo back two weeks to August 25, Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 from December to spring 2024, and Kraven the Hunter from October to August 2024. Disney pushed Searchlight’s Poor Things from September to early December and is also considering delaying Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, the animated Wish, and Magazine Dreams starring Jonathan Majors. Amazon’s Challengers starring Zendaya was delayed from September to April 2024. Warner Bros. is considering delaying major releases like Dune: Part Two, The Color Purple, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Related: 12 Major Movies Likely To Be Delayed Next After Disney’s Huge Changes

While the SAG-AFTRA strike is for a good cause, it could end up unintentionally harming the theater industry, which had just recovered from the pandemic. However, the AMPTP is arguably to blame in this case, considering they are reportedly refusing to resume negotiation with the actors any time soon. With stars unable to promote projects for the foreseeable future, studios are considering delaying major fall releases, though theater owners have sent a loud and clear message that this could end up damaging the movie business.

Source: Variety