Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 is currently one of the few major blockbusters still slated for a theatrical release in 2020, though the possibility of seeing the film delayed again has been on the minds of moviegoers and exhibitors. Now, Warner Bros. is reportedly on the verge of deciding whether to hold the DC film’s Christmas day release or postpone it until next summer.
The decision to postpone Wonder Woman 1984 until Christmas 2020 already marked the third time the film had been delayed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the number of reported COVID-19 cases on the rise around the world and certain countries entering a second lockdown, a recent Bloomberg report claimed Warner Bros. may release the DC sequel on HBO Max roughly a week or two after its theatrical debut.
Deadline reports Warner Bros. isn’t moving towards such an option for Wonder Woman 1984, but the outlet’s exhibition sources say the WarnerMedia branch is considering a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release. A full theatrical release for the DC sequel on June 4, 2021, roughly four years after the original Wonder Woman film premiered, is reportedly still an option. The studio has already debunked rumors suggesting Wonder Woman 1984 will receive a shortened theatrical release before being available on VOD. “WW1984 will be in theaters,” said a Warner Bros. representative on the Bloomberg report, though Deadline notes a final decision regarding the release plan for Wonder Woman 1984 could be made by Friday or Monday at the latest.
One of the reasons Warner Bros. is having difficulty making a decision about Wonder Woman 1984‘s release is reportedly due to pressure from AT&T. The telecommunications company, which acquired WarnerMedia in 2018 when it was named Time Warner, is said to be pushing for the DC film to be released on an over-the-top service. However, MKM Partners’ Eric Handler told Deadline that studios are concerned about a loss of profits by releasing tentpole projects on PVOD, saying, “Hollywood’s biggest issue is that PVOD has not come close to compensating for the lost box office revenue. That’s why we keep seeing these big movies pushed forward. Some of the smaller films get tested on PVOD, but the longer this (pandemic) goes on, the more of a crunch there will be. We haven’t seen the end of PVOD testing, but I think when you spend $200M on a film, you have to think of the box office.”
Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins has already expressed her commitment to a theatrical release, which she believes would prevent the demise of the struggling movie theater business. At the time, Jenkins also denied a VOD release was even being considered.
DC Comics’ decision to postpone its Wonder Woman 1984 comic covers fueled speculation that Warner Bros. has already decided to postpone the film until next year. However, the comic publisher stated that its decision to delay the covers was made so they could coincide with the 80th anniversary of Wonder Woman’s first appearance.
Wonder Woman 1984 is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on December 25th, 2020.
Source: Deadline
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