So this is encouraging! Earlier this year, Warner Bros. announced that their entire 2021 line-up would premiere simultaneously in theaters and streaming on HBO Max (the first being Wonder Woman 1984, which came out to both on Christmas Day). However, this caused issues with many of their partners – up to, and including. potential legal action – such as Legendary, who had ponied up as much as 75% of the finances for both Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune. Another critic of this new distribution model included Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who stated in Variety earlier this month:
I want the audience to understand that streaming alone can’t sustain the film industry as we knew it before COVID. Streaming can produce great content, but not movies of “Dune’s” scope and scale. Warner Bros.’ decision means “Dune” won’t have the chance to perform financially in order to be viable and piracy will ultimately triumph. Warner Bros. might just have killed the “Dune” franchise.
However, according to Deadline last week, it seems that Dune may in fact be giving the film "a traditional theatrical to preserve its franchise potential", and that its late 2021 release "falls well after the estimated late spring date when Covid vaccines should achieve herd immunity." Let's hope that remains the case!
Here's the official synopsis for Dune:
In the far future of humanity, Duke Leto Atreides accepts stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, "the spice", a drug which extends human life, provides superhuman levels of thought, and makes faster-than-light travel possible. Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his enemies, he takes his Bene Gesserit concubine Lady Jessica, young son and heir Paul, and most trusted advisers to Arrakis. Leto takes control of the spice mining operation, which is made perilous by the presence of giant sandworms. A bitter betrayal leads Paul and Jessica to the Fremen, natives of Arrakis who live in the deep desert.
Meanwhile, Dune – directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, and Dave Bautista – is expected to hit theaters October 1, 2021…but we'll keep you updated if there are any changes.
So what do you guys think? Do you believe streaming simultaneously with theatrical releases is the wave of the future, or do you agree with Villeneuve that it would be the death knell for big, blockbuster films? Either way, sound off below!