As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has witnessed the ebb and flow of the cinematic landscape for decades, I find myself intrigued by the potential dance between Netflix and Imax, as they deliberate over Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved series, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Could Aslan the lion serve as the influential figure who persuades Netflix to reconsider its position on theatrical releases and grant Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series a screening in approximately 2,000 cinemas worldwide?
It appears that IMAX and Netflix are holding early discussions about the Narnia series, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s sources. One proposal under consideration involves debuting the special event movie around Thanksgiving 2026, followed by streaming it for subscribers over Christmas. However, the critical question is whether this timeframe would be sufficient for theater chains that run IMAX screens, as this could potentially cause a stumbling block in the deal.
I’ve been finding myself caught up in the renewed buzz surrounding Greta Gerwig’s venture, which seems to be stirring up long-buried emotions and unease among film studios and leading cinema chains across the nation.
Movie studios might express displeasure if Imax reserves holiday seasons for a Netflix film that doesn’t follow the traditional release window, which has significantly reduced in the post-pandemic period to anywhere between 30 and 65 days (with smaller titles potentially being available at home even earlier).
As a fervent admirer, I found myself engaged in discussions following the initiative taken by Gerwig, the mastermind behind the 2023 blockbuster “Barbie.” The dialogues ensued after she reached out to Imax. It’s been reported that her pitch eventually reached Rich Gelfond, the esteemed CEO of Imax, whose large-format screens are a dream for filmmakers like James Cameron and Christopher Nolan. Interestingly, Oppenheimer, one of Nolan’s productions shot majorly with Imax-certified cameras, saw tremendous success on Imax screens despite being an adult historical drama.
Imax shares experienced an increase on Tuesday following the announcement of negotiations between Imax and Netflix. The co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, has been resistant to adhere to traditional theatrical release timelines, causing distress among filmmakers like Martin Scorsese. Breaking from their usual pattern, Netflix granted Scorsese’s film The Irishman an exclusive release, but it was still shorter than expected (Netflix started testing a new approach with Roma a year prior).
As a gamer, I don’t disclose my earnings. Instead, I strategically release my award contenders and big-budget original films in a select number of cinemas that are open to playing them (I’ve also acquired two prestigious movie theaters in Los Angeles and New York City, The Egyptian and The Paris).
During an earnings discussion on Wednesday, Gelfond declined to discuss the current state of negotiations with Netflix directly, but didn’t deny the rumors. Instead, he emphasized, “As you’re aware, producers and film studios are increasingly embracing the Imax experience.” He further noted, “We’re constantly evolving and seeking fresh strategies for showcasing content as events.
It’s uncertain how far IMAX might be prepared to push its boundaries when it comes to potentially upsetting its theater partners, if they were to collaborate with Netflix.
In early July 2023, news broke about Greta Gerwig taking on the director’s role for ‘Narnia’. This was well before the release of ‘Barbie’, which eventually became a cultural sensation and earned over $1.44 billion at the box office. Consequently, her influence significantly grew, and she seems keen to leverage this newfound influence to bring ‘Narnia’ to cinemas.
There’s speculation among many in Hollywood that Greta Gerwig might be responding to the latest developments surrounding her Barbie co-star and producer, Margot Robbie, and a high-profile project they’re involved with.
Back in early October, I was thrilled to learn that Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group managed to secure the rights for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights, outdoing Netflix in the process. What made the difference? Their firm dedication to distribute the movie globally across cinemas worldwide. And guess who’ll be gracing our screens as the leads? None other than Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi! This exciting project is brought to us by MRC, and it has sparked a whirlwind of interest among both streamers and studios alike.
Matt Belloni at Puck first reported the news of the talks between Gerwig and Imax.
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2024-10-31 03:24