Los Angeles, United States.
Hollywood has jam jams. If life were still analog, celluloid towers and towers would pile up in their warehouses waiting for the time to hit theaters.
Now the reality is digital, but the problem is the same: The pandemic has forced the postponement of the vast majority of blockbusters by 2020, which will have to find their place in a 2021 long awaited by moviegoers.
The latest James Bond adventure postponed since last spring, the fourth installment of “Matrix“The debut of Lebron James in the sequel to”Cosmic jam“, The updated version of” Dune “and the return of Wes Anderson are just some of the releases planned for the new year, a season that is born under great uncertainty and in which no one knows when it will be safe to re-crowd the cinemas.
Will we see the new “West Side Story” in the movies or in our homes? The revision of the legendary musical could have secured its projection on the big screen because it will not be released until Christmas but the path is not as clear for “James Bond: There is no time to die“(April),”Black widow“(May)”Fast and furious 9“(May) o”Jurassic World: Dominion“(June).
To shed some light on this maze, Warner Bros. has been the fastest studio to move tab since throughout 2021 and until the coronavirus give respite all his films will be released simultaneously in cinemas and in “streaming“. A virtually deadly blow to theaters with which he has assured that he will release his films.
The “streaming”, ally of the studios and enemy of the cinemas
So far no studio, except Netflix, had dared to release one at a time overproduction in cinemas and the internet. The famous “distribution window” in which the tapes waited three months before reaching the domestic market was scrupulously respected. But on Christmas Day everything changed: Disney and Pixar launched directly on the Disney + platform “Soul“One of the animated films of the year, and Warner Bros.”Wonder Woman 1984“an HBO Max.
The strategy of the former was punctual, that of the latter meant the inauguration of the method by which HBO max will host all of the studio’s films in 2021: “Godzilla Vs. Kong“,”At the heights“,”Cosmic jam: A new legacy“,”The suicide squad“,”Dune“I”Matrix 4“, Among others.
The same day they arrive in cinemas (the few open), they will be available at the streaming service“For 30 days. The funny thing is that, already started in 2021, HBO Max is still an exclusive US product that is scheduled to open in Europe and Latin America throughout the year, but a huge promotion has already been guaranteed to steal some market in Netflix.
On the other side of the coin is Disney. The entertainment giant has been less drastic and continues to bet heavily on cinemas. At the moment it has only released “Mulan“i Soul“Through Disney +. And the first in exchange for a not inconsiderable $ 30 as an extra charge.
His next film, “Stripe and the last dragon“Will follow the model of”Mulan“In March and from here … it will be seen. For now Marvel fans will see”Black widow (May) i “The eternal“(November) in the cinema, according to the company’s plans. Also Pixar’s visit to the Italian Riviera with”Luca“(June) and the trip to Colombia of” Encant “(November) maintain their exclusive premiere on the big screen. The same as the” Jungle Cruise “(July) of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Historical remakes and sagas
Platforms yes, platforms no, the Hollywood obsession to give new life to his classics will remain intact. In 2021 will come a new version of “West Side Story“Under the direction of Steven Spielberg and will not be the only jewel of the seventh art to be renewed.
after “Blade Runner 2049“Denis Villeneuve will return to science fiction classics with a new” Dune “starring the flower and cream of today’s Hollywood, Timothée Chamalet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem and Charlotte Rampling.
even Tom Cruise will return to “Top Gun“More than 30 years after its release with a sequel to the quintessential eighties film.
And outside of “remakes” there will still be room for sequels of sagas like “Ghostbusters “,” Jurassic World “,” Fast and Furious “,” Matrix “,” Minions “,”James Bow“I”Tomb Raider“.
Beyond the commercial circuit, in February it will be the turn of Frances McDormand with “Nomad“, A tape that has been praised by critics who have already seen it and sounds like a favorite for the Oscars.
“The file Kings ManIt will arrive in March while there is still no date to re-enter the picturesque universes of Wes Anderson with “The French Dispatch”, although it will probably be before the “biopic” about Elvis Presley by Baz Luhrmann snatches prominence in the fall.
The when seems clear, the how not yet.