Warner Bros. will produce at least 10 movies for the HBO Max streaming service in 2022, WarnerMedia CEOJason Kilarsaid during Thursday’s second quarter earnings call for parent company AT&T, perVariety. The announcement comes after the studio attracted significant backlash from filmmakers for deciding to debutevery movie on its 2021 slateon HBO Max, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WarnerMedia’s move to release tentpole titles such asDuneday-and-date on its fledgling streaming servicewas met with resistancefrom directorDenis Villeneuve.Thursday’s trailerconfirmed, again, that the science-fiction epic is indeed going to be available for home viewing (for 30 days) when it is released in October.
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Kilar highlighted the theatrical revenue for this summer’sGodzilla vs. Kong, which made close to $500 million worldwide. That’s a higher gross thanChristopher Nolan’sTenet, which was touted as the film that would revive the theatergoing experience.Nolan was among the most vocal criticsof the day-and-date release model, calling HBO Max “the worst streaming service,” in a statement toThe Hollywood Reporter.
Decisions on how long a title plays in theaters will be made on a film-by-film basis, in the future. Kilar predicted that Hollywood will “see this industry continue to evolve and innovate in ways that work for not only for consumers and fans but also for our business partners.”
Some of the films that have been a part of this hybrid release model includeJohn Lee Hancock’s detective thrillerThe Little Things, starringDenzel Washington,Rami Malek, andJared Leto;Shaka King’s Oscar contenderJudas and the Black Messiah, starringDaniel KaluuyaandLaKeith Stanfield; the video game adaptationMortal Kombat;John M. Chu’s excellently-reviewed musicalIn the Heights; and most recently,Space Jam: A New Legacy, among others. Titles that the studio will continue to debut day-and-date on HBO Max includeJames Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad,James Wan’sMalignant, and more.
KEEP READING:Here Are All the 2021 Warner Bros. Movies That Will Be Released on HBO Max
