Dune might still have a theatrical window after Warner Bros. announced it would debut on HBO Max.
Following the studio’s shock announcement that their entire 2021 slate would be shifted to the streamer, Deadline has claimed that the threat of legal action from the production company behind the Timothée Chalamet sc-fi epic could see that decision reversed.
‘Legendary is in a big fight that might result in lawsuits,’ claimed the industry gossip site on Tuesday.
Where there’s life: Dune might still have a theatrical window after Warner Bros. announced it would debut on HBO Max. Star Timothée Chalamet seen here in a still from the movie
The Burbank-based mass media company, which financed 75% of both Dune and Warner Bros stablemate Godzilla vs. Kong, ‘was completely blindsided’ by the HBO Max announcement earlier this month.
One solution might be to give the big budget epic ‘a traditional theatrical [release] to preserve its franchise potential’.
The news comes after Dune’s director Denis Villeneuve slammed Warner Bros.earlier this month for their decision.
Stuff of Legend: ‘Legendary is in a big fight that might result in lawsuits,’ claimed industry gossip site Deadline on Tuesday. Star Zendaya pictured here
The 53-year-old French Canadian filmmaker wrote an op-ed for Variety in which he vented his frustrations over the major studio’s move.
He wrote: ‘Warner Bros.’ sudden reversal from being a legacy home for filmmakers to the new era of complete disregard draws a clear line for me.
‘Filmmaking is a collaboration, reliant on the mutual trust of team work and Warner Bros. has declared they are no longer on the same team.’
‘They are no longer on the same team’: Denis Villeneuve wrote an op-ed for Variety in which he vented his frustrations over Warner Bros.’s bombshell announcement that all of its 2021 movies will debut in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously
Villeneueve was also not pleased to have found out about the pivot just as everyone else did.
He explained: ‘I learned in the news that Warner Bros. has decided to release Dune on HBO Max at the same time as our theatrical release, using prominent images from our movie to promote their streaming service.
‘With this decision AT&T has hijacked one of the most respectable and important studios in film history. There is absolutely no love for cinema, nor for the audience here’
‘I learned in the news that Warner Bros. has decided to release Dune on HBO Max at the same time as our theatrical release, using prominent images from our movie to promote their streaming service’: Villeneueve was also not pleased to have found out about the pivot just as everyone else did
Possible lawsuit: Legendary Entertainment, which produced the upcoming movies Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong through their distribution deal with Warner Bros., is considering suing the studio, according to a report from Variety
Stakeholder: Through Legendary’s co-financing deal with Warner Bros., Legendary put up most of the financing for its movies, reportedly 75%, with Warner Bros. putting up 25%
Through Legendary’s co-financing deal with Warner Bros., Legendary put up most of the financing for its movies, reportedly 75%, with Warner Bros. putting up 25%.
However, Warner Bros. also controls distribution of the projects, which is how the studio blocked the sale of Godzilla vs. Kong to Netflix last month, reportedly for $250 million.
Godzilla vs. Kong was reportedly produced under a $160 million budget, with Dune costing a whopping $200 million.
No sale: However, Warner Bros. also controls distribution of the projects, which is how the studio blocked the sale of Godzilla vs. Kong to Netflix last month, reportedly for $250 million
Legendary was reportedly ‘kept out of the loop’ when it came to Warner Bros.’ plans to release its 17 films slated for release in 2021 on both HBO Max and in theaters.
Dune was initially slated to be the first part of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 novel.
The project was initially given the green light to launch both movies on the big screen, though there is no word if the sequel will move forward if it will roll out in theaters and on HBO Max like the first movie.
Godzilla vs. Kong, which stars Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Eiza Gonzalez and Jessica Henwick, is slated for release on May 19, 2021.
Dune, which stars Timothee Chalamet, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem and Stellan Skarsgard, is set to debut on October 8, 2021.
Generous deal: Sources claim Legendary is trying to negotiate, ‘a more generous deal’ with Warner Bros., but legal action is not out of the question if talks fail
Dune: Dune director Denis Villeneuve is reportedly just as upset with the news as Legendary execs, since he preferred a traditional theatrical release for his movie
Release date: Godzilla vs. Kong, which stars Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Eiza Gonzalez and Jessica Henwick, is slated for release on May 19, 2021