Just when we thought it seemed inevitable that Warner Bros. is planning to move ahead with its July 17 release date for Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” San Francisco releases news that doesn’t bode well for the film’s expected debut, as well as the rest of the summer movie season.
Recently, it was revealed that San Francisco isn’t expected to open cinemas until Phase 3 of its reopening plan, which isn’t likely to begin before mid-August. With “Tenet” hoping to open in mid-July, this throws a major wrench into those plans, according to a recent THR report featuring financial analyst at FBR, Eric Wold.
The problem isn’t necessarily just what the reopening plan means for San Francisco, which is one of the biggest movie theater markets in the world, outside of Los Angeles and New York City, but what the project likely hints at for those other two major markets.
“Although we acknowledge that each of the three major cities (and both states) are working on their own individual timelines, we believe the later-than-anticipated opening timeline for San Francisco probably does not bode well for the other two,” the analyst explained. “While we do not believe San Francisco on its own would be enough to influence the studios’ decisions, we would expect that all three cities would have a major influence.”
READ MORE: Regal’s Parent Company Says All Its Cinemas Will Reopen In July…If ‘Tenet’ Arrives
As was reported a few weeks ago, WB isn’t going to open “Tenet” in July unless 80% of the world’s movie theaters are reopened for business. And particularly, in the US, the studio is eyeing an opening only if New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco theaters are back up and running. So, if San Francisco definitely isn’t going to be ready in time, and NYC and LA aren’t likely to be either, WB has to make a decision soon about what it intends on doing with its $200 million blockbuster.
According to a new issue of Total Film, Nolan can’t guarantee a release date, but does say that “Tenet” will be ready for whenever WB wants to release it.
“We’re finishing the film, and the film will be ready for when theaters reopen,” said Nolan. “I think, at this stage, that is all there is to say about it, really.”
Well, as of now, “Tenet” is expected to hit theaters on July 17. But how about you put that in your calendar with pencil and not pen? Things could be changing.
