At the end of last year, Warner Bros. made history by announcing that its 2021 theatrical debut would also go straight to HBO Max on the same day that those films were due to hit theaters. It was a bold move to change the game – and met with immediate resistance. Because, it seems, Warners people forgot to inform the filmmakers and actors involved in their upcoming films about the decision.
Legendary Pictures, which has an agreement to co-produce and co-finance films with Warner Bros., was perhaps the strongest voice against the idea, claiming that they were very upset with the upcoming Legendary / WB films Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune would be released on this matter. There was even talk of legal action. Now, a report indicates that Warner Bros. and Legendary are close to reaching an agreement on Godzilla vs. Kong, but negotiations involving Dune are in progress.
The story about a possible legal action involving Warner Bros. and Legendary surfaced in December 2020, indicating that Legendary planned to “send legal letters to Warner Bros. to challenge the release on the day and date of his two films, in which Legendary was not consulted before the announcement of the unprecedented streaming launch plan. ”The film company was particularly irritated by the studio because of the launch plans Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune for HBO Max. E Dune film-maker Denis Villeneuve even writing an article for Variety in which he angrily stated: “With this decision, AT&T kidnapped one of the most respectable and important studios in the history of cinema. There is absolutely no love for cinema, nor for the audience here. “
According to a new THR article, negotiations between Legendary and WB are over Dune are underway, but a resolution on Godzilla vs. Kong it is apparently imminent. As THR states, “An agreement means that the parties are close to avoiding a possible legal confrontation over Warner Media’s surprise decision to place their entire 2021 list on their HBO Max streamer on the same date that the films open in theaters. . ” They also add that “The film will retain its May 21 release date in theaters, including IMAX, as well as HBO Max. Legendary will release the film in China. “
If the movie is still coming to HBO Max, what is being resolved here? The answer: money. Legendary is likely to have a larger payday because of this situation. But what about Dune? This is still a more complicated issue. It also puts Warners in a difficult position, because if Legendary and those involved with Dune wants to fight the launch of HBO Max, and WB gives in, that will set a precedent, and other 2021 WB films may want similar treatment. For example, the THR story indicates that The Matrix 4 director Lana Wachowski is “adamant about an exclusive theatrical screening” of the film, which is currently scheduled to hit HBO Max in the December 22, 2021.
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