It looks like the upcoming Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel romantic comedy, Shotgun Wedding, is on the move. It has just been announced that the film is heading straight to streaming after Prime Video was sold the U.S. rights for the movie from Lionsgate.
As has been the case with previous Prime Video films, the movie is expected to get a day-and-date limited theatrical release, per Deadline, although they have not set a release date for the project. Prime Video already acquired the international streaming rights in several key territories where the movie will be getting a theatrical release. The film previously had a July 1, 2022, release date in the U.S. where it was to open against Minions: The Rise of Gru and Mr. Malcolm’s List.
We can speculate as to why the rights were sold by Lionsgate. With the exception of the recently released The Lost City, romantic comedies haven’t really set the box office on fire lately. Jennifer Lopez’s previous romantic comedy, Marry Me, was released in February and received a day-and-date theatrical and streaming release via Peacock. The film was a moderate hit, grossing $22.4 million and $49.1 million worldwide on a reported $23 million budget. The movie also performed solidly on streaming, with Comcast CEO and chairman Brian Roberts announcing at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in early March that Marry Me was the most streamed movie on Peacock. Perhaps streaming is the best strategy for Shotgun Wedding.
In Shotgun Wedding, “A couple’s extravagant destination wedding is hijacked by criminals. In the process of saving their families, they rediscover why they fell in love in the first place.” Directed by Jason Moore, the film also stars Jennifer Coolidge, Sonia Braga, Cheech Marin, Selena Tan, and Lenny Kravitz.
Do YOU think it was the right decision to send Shotgun Wedding to streaming?