Universal removes The Hunt from release schedule after real tragedies

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Just as the marketing campaign for the September 27th release of the Universal / Blumhouse social thriller THE HUNT was getting started, the decision has been made to pull the film from the release schedule. Following the mass shootings that occurred in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio in recent weeks, Universal and Blumhouse agreed that this is not an appropriate time to put THE HUNT out in theatres.

Universal gave the following statement: 

While Universal Pictures had already paused the marketing campaign for The Hunt, after thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film.  We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.

Directed by Craig Zobel from a screenplay by Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse, THE HUNT has the following synopsis: 

Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don’t know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen… for a very specific purpose… The Hunt.
 
In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, a group of globalist elites gathers for the very first time at a remote Manor House to hunt humans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of the hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin, GLOW), knows The Hunters’ game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off, one by one, as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman (two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank) at the center of it all.

Hilary Swank gave a statement of her own after Universal announced that THE HUNT won't be released next month: 

I fully support the decision by Universal and the filmmakers regarding The Hunt.  It is a choice that I also personally felt was necessary.  I can’t comprehend the violence happening in our county right now. We should all focus on healing, and above all else, kindness, sensitivity and humanity.

There's no word on what might happen with THE HUNT, but there's some speculation that the film could end up being released through the NBCUniversal streaming service that will be launching in April of next year.

Whether it's heading for screens big or small, we'll let you know what the future holds for THE HUNT when the plans are announced.