Warner’s message is not subtle – it is signaling to creators and the public that its 2021 strategy is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, not a sign of a long-term change. The company has faced strong opposition to its Dune director Denis Villeneuvand and PrincipleChristopher Nolan, with Villeneuve claiming that Warner was destroying the cinema in the name of supporting HBO Max. A 2023 film will not satisfy these creators in the short term, but it can prevent them from leaving the studio.
This will not be exciting if you see streaming on the same day as a chance for the film industry to break away from the old formula and movie chains. With that said, Warner is also somewhat optimistic about the state of the cinemas. Many cinemas were in danger or even closed because of the pandemic, and even AMC warned that it could run out of money. While it’s not surprising if the theater sector rebuilds itself by 2023, film premieres may not be as important as they were before 2020.