Tenet: Christopher Nolan Reportedly Pushed for July Release Date, Studio Wanted to Postpone

Christopher Nolan is determined to preserve the theatrical experience, global pandemic be damned. According to a new report, Nolan was adamant his time-bending espionage thriller Tenet open in theaters this July while distributor Warner Bros. wanted to push back its release.Tenet’s release was recently postponed by two weeks, shifting from July 17 to July 31, with Warners re-releasing Nolan’s Inception on July 17 instead to honor its 10th anniversary.

According to the New York Times:
“In recent weeks, Warner, concerned about its Tenet investment, was leaning in favor of postponement, while Mr. Nolan, a fervent advocate for preserving the moviegoing experience, was more eager to press ahead. The discussions amounted to a fraught moment for Warner: Mr. Nolan is a proven moneymaker, and the studio wants to keep him happy.”

As it stands now, Disney’s Mulan — and not Tenet — will be the first major Hollywood release to hit theaters this summer … that is, of course, unless Disney decides to push the film off its current July 24 opening date.

With cinemas across the US gradually reopening — the nation’s biggest markets, New York City and Los Angeles, aim to reopen theaters July 10 — Hollywood can expect diminished revenues from new releases due to social distancing requirements.

Theaters will initially open at limited capacity (25% attendance) with patrons to be kept six feet apart, a phased reopening seeing seating capacity increased in stages depending on whether or not there’s an uptick in new COVID-19 cases.

Some regions and theater chains, namely Cinemark, won’t require patrons to wear masks. The novel coronavirus pandemic is not over, and many industries, including Hollywood, are concerned that reopening too soon will hasten the spread of the deadly illness.

Nolan has made no secret of his advocacy for the theatrical experience, particularly IMAX and 70mm, both of which formats Tenet will be presented in. In a March op-ed, Nolan wrote, “Movie theaters are a vital part of American social life. They will need our help.”

Source: ign.com