While states such as Texas and Georgia begin to lift stay-at-home restrictions, allowing some non-essential businesses, such as movie theaters, to reopen, it appears that California is still a long way away from being at that point. In fact, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom, the state is still “months” away from allowing cinemas to reopen.
According to a new 4-stage plan unveiled by Newsom (via Variety), the state will begin to allow movie theaters to reopen (with social distancing in effect) beginning in Stage 3. However, that part of the plan is still “months, not weeks” away. That might put a damper on Warner Bros. release of “Tenet,” in July, huh?
While the term “months” could mean anything, as little as the end of June (roughly two months) or perhaps as long as the beginning of 2021 (or longer), it’s important to understand that California, like New York and other highly-populated states, have been hit hard by COVID-19. Whereas some states are willing to take the chance and open up sooner, given they may have fewer cases and deaths, California is obviously taking things a lot more cautiously.
We already know that chains such as AMC and Cinemark are looking at July as potential reopening times, to coincide with the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” on July 17. However, if California isn’t ready to open cinemas by then, and other states are in a similar spot, will Warner Bros. take the chance and release the blockbuster anyway? That’s a question that we honestly have no way of knowing. It would be incredibly strange for a major film to open and no one in Los Angeles would have the ability to see it, but a guy in Georgia would, right?
This is all speculation, at this point. Situations surrounding COVID-19 are changing daily. However, it’s clear that California isn’t planning on having most of its businesses reopen anytime soon. And that could be a sign of how things go for other states, which could have a ripple effect nationwide.