Warner Bros. Pictures’ announcement earlier this week that its animated Scooby Doo film “Scoob!” ditching its theatrical run for a direct to premium VOD release was followed yesterday with comments from WarnerMedia chief John Stankey that raised some eyebrows.
During an investors call on Wednesday, Stankey spoke about impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and said: “We are rethinking our theatrical model and looking for ways to accelerate efforts that are consistent with the rapid changes in consumer behavior from the pandemic.”
The comment and delay combined suggested Warners may forgo theatrical releases for some of its non-tentpole films in the future. However studio chief Ann Sarnoff and Stankey himself issued further statements late Wednesday to clarify the situation. Sarnoff said in a statement to THR:
“We are committed to – and are excited about – releasing ‘Tenet’ in theaters this summer or whenever theaters reopen. We remain supportive of the theatrical experience and our exhibition partners, and are confident that our tentpole titles, including ‘Tenet’ and ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ are exactly the type of films that will have people eager to return to theaters.”
Stankey also added his own remarks, saying:
“Theatrical films have always been a major part of the our ecosystem. I fully expect that as we evaluate our business going forward, we will continue to champion creative work that is worthy of the theatrical experience.”
The current hope is that cinemas will begin going back on by late June in order to prepare for the releases of Chris Nolan’s “Tenet” and Disney’s “Mulan” in July. “Scoob!” meanwhile will be available to rent and purchase for $19.99 and $24.99, respectively, on May 15th before likely getting an exclusive run at some point on HBO Max.
