With the numbers now in, “Tenet” debuted to just $20.2 million over the several day Labor Day holiday weekend.
That’s a bit less than what was hoped for, even though demand to see the film is high, and suggests cinemas simply aren’t that ready to handle multiple blockbusters at the same time. Not helping is the fact New York and Los Angeles are simply not online yet with cinemas unlikely to open there until early October according to analysts.
Today Deadline reports that Warner Bros. Pictures is on the verge of announcing delays to its next major feature – pushing “Wonder Woman 1984” from October 2nd to sometime in November or December.
This is to make sure “Tenet” gets free rein at the cinemas when those coastal markets go back online, and fits in with the studio’s message of box-office being more a “marathon than a sprint” in these pandemic times.
Both Universal’s “Candyman” and 20th Century Studios’ “Death on the Nile” remain on track for October openings, while “Black Widow” and “No Time To Die” have early November locked up. So if “Wonder Woman” moves it will likely head for a Thanksgiving slot unless someone else (namely Disney) exits first.
In fact the report indicates Disney is likely to move “Black Widow” and just hasn’t made it official yet, and where it moves to will also impact things. Warners is also apparently looking into the distinct possibility of pushing “Dune” into 2021 – reinforced by the just released trailer with a conspicuously absent release date. Either way expect announcements on this very shortly.
