While many blockbusters have been pushed back by months or even a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the one film that is adamant about staying the course is Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet”.
As has been reported before, the studio would be fine with delaying the film for months but it is Nolan himself (and exhibitors as a whole) who are keen to see people back in cinemas as soon as possible to watch it.
As a result, the film has been delayed several times now in two week increments – keeping itself in prime position to be the first major studio big-budget wide release when (or if) audiences return en masse.
Now, THR has offered some new details about why Nolan is so intent on bringing “Tenet” to screens as soon as possible. The trade indicates Warners execs held a video meeting with Nolan in early June and laid out several different possible scenarios for Tenet’s release.
They also presented a case for pushing the film into the future by several months when COVID-19 would be a little more contained. Nolan reportedly pushed back, saying it wasn’t about money and expressed “a desire to be the first big studio film back in theaters, to show faith in the form and solidarity with exhibitors, when they’re allowed to open and say they’re ready.”
Nolan ultimately agreed to a two-week delay, but the decision was taken out of his hands as COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to spike across the United States – leading to another two week delay. The film needs to earn an absolute minimum of $400 million worldwide, likely considerably more, to break even.
