For fans of Wonder Woman's Return to the Future, we'll have to wait until Christmas.
The Warner studios formalized this weekend a new postponement of release for "Wonder Woman 1984".
Initially scheduled for September 30 in France, this second part of Diana Prince's adventures, which was shaping up to be a locomotive for French theaters already severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, will not land in theaters worldwide until December 25, 2020. .
This postponement causes a real "air hole" for the programming of theaters, nearly a month and a half without major releases.
“We deeply regret the lag of Wonder Woman, but the studios, particularly the Americans, are very sensitive to what is happening on their territory,” reacts Marc-Olivier Sebag, deputy general delegate of the National Federation of French cinemas.
“While Tenet has achieved these goals in France, it seems not to be the case in North America.
These decisions do not take into account the European dynamic ”, regrets the representative of the operators.
On the side of Warner France, contacted by Le Parisien, no one wishes to comment on this commercial choice.
Shift into a mess
Could it be because Warner has not yet fully repaid its investment in Tenet that this decision has been made?
Estimated at $ 200 million, the film has grossed, so far, just over 20 million in the United States and 146 million worldwide.
From there to think that the Warner wants to extend the life of Tenet, to make profitable the last opus of Christopher Nolan, there is only one step.
Among the blockbusters, “Dune” version Denis Villeneuve, one of the most anticipated films of the year and for the moment announced, by the same studios, in mid-November, could also be postponed.
In France, the next blockbuster on the bill is none other than another film dedicated to a super-heroine, Black Widow, alias Scarlett Johansson, scheduled for the moment at the end of October.
On the side of other distributors like Sony, we have already postponed the release of these headliners.
The Sony Studios blockbusters: “Ghostbusters: The Legacy” and “Morbius” will not be released in 2020, but on March 5 and March 19, 2021.
“The cinemas much prefer that the releases be spread out over time.
With this crisis, the tensions linked to the dates of exits are increasing, ”confirms Marc-Olivier Sebag who pleads for a regionalization of exits.
A formula that would satisfy the public, distributors and exhibitors.
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“We have had a positive dynamic in France in recent weeks.
If the public shows the same enthusiasm for the French films that will be showing during this period, it will be a win-win, ”hopes the manager.
Festivals to the rescue
As for the theaters, we make good heart against bad luck.
"It's been several me that we adapt, it started with the shift of Mulan", says Manon Desseauve, director of the Cinema les 7 Batignolles, in Paris (17th century).
“If the situation is complicated for theaters, I think it's also an opportunity to reinvent the exploitation.
We decided to host festivals, for example, by making venues available, ”adds the director.
“And yes, I am worried about my site, from a cash flow point of view, but we have a constructive approach.
This is the opportunity to test everything and aim for a plural cinema that opens up to the rest of culture, music, debates, etc.
», Explains Manon.
"The alternative programming and the outputs, it works well", welcomes Manon, who has found a new source of spectators.
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For the others, it will be necessary to wait until November to hope to see a big poster, in particular the last James Bond, scheduled for the 11th. A film ironically entitled, "Dying can wait".