We’re drawing ever closer to the release of “Blade Runner 2049,” and with each passing day the scrutiny is becoming stronger. Eyebrows were raised with the recent news that Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch were brought in to help Johan Johannsson with the score, and now we’re learning about why the big sci-fi sequel will likely be skipping the festival circuit.
Screen Daily caught up with Venice Film Festival head Alberto Barbera to discuss this year’s lineup, and he attributes the absence of Denis Villeneuve‘s new film to Warner Bros. being wary about spoilers and the reception it will receive.
“More than ever, studios are afraid about that moment when their movies encounter audiences and press for the first time as this may negatively impact their box office,” Barbera explained, something he attributes as a “growing problem” for festivals in general.
I’m not particularly surprised that the studio would prefer to keep their picture under wraps until a little closer to the release date. Warner Bros. doesn’t particularly need a festival bow from a marketing perspective, certainly not one as arthouse-oriented as Venice. Nor is the film their big awards season horse (that belongs to Christopher Nolan‘s “Dunkirk“).
However, it does leave the studio in a curious position of trying to break the film out to a wider audience beyond the niche, “Blade Runner” faithful, and it’s arguable that they’re not quite there. The weeks ahead will be interesting to see how WB balances exciting a four-quadrant audience for this potential franchise, while also keeping all the surprises close to their chest.
“Blade Runner 2049” opens on October 6th.