Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the decision to release Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow” simultaneously in cinemas and on Disney+ via Premier Access this Summer is the right call.
Making a virtual appearance at J.P. Morgan’s 49th annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference this week, Chapek says: “One of the things we learned is that flexibility is good. We’re really celebrating that flexibility .. we’re trying to offer consumers more choice.”
Chapek says U.S. box office remains ‘fairly weak’ but has shown strength in a few international markets, adding that: “we’re seeing some hesitancy to return” by some moviegoers. That played a big part in their decision over the “Black Widow” release:
“We’ve already delayed Black Widow a couple of times, we didn’t want to delay it again. Yet, at the same time, we always knew there was a risk that exhibition wasn’t going to be fully developed or consumers wouldn’t want to go back and sit in theaters. So, we realized we had to sort of prime the pump and give theatrical exhibition a chance. We couldn’t put all of our eggs in the theatrical exhibition basket because we knew that in the weeks leading up to the decision that the domestic market was not coming back. And it’s still fairly weak. So, we’re very confident that we made the right call there.”
He adds that consumers are driving the shorter windows for releases and if you have a film that plays for a total of 4-6 weeks in cinemas, there is “not a lot of reason to sit on it for the next 6-7 months”.
“Black Widow” is slated to debut July 9th in theaters and for a $30 premium for Disney+ subscribers.
Source: Deadline
