WarnerMedia's plan to debut 2021 Warner Bros. titles like The Suicide Squad simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max has reportedly ruffled the feathers of production company Legendary Pictures.
According to Variety, Legendary Pictures is considering suing Warner Bros. over its plans to debut Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune on HBO Max. Both of these bid-budget projects were primarily financed by Legendary yet the production company was kept in the dark on WB's plans to release the films onto HBO Max. Providing additional frustration is that Warner Bros. reportedly prevented Legendary from selling Godzilla vs. Kong to HBO Max competitor Netflix months prior.
A lawsuit is just one option on the table, though it could be filed in the coming days. Legendary's initial course of action is to first talk to WB and figure out some kind of deal for Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune. Such a deal could include WB buying out Legendary's stake in the projects.
Frustration over WB's handling of these two films extends beyond Legendary Pictures. According to Variety, Dune director Denis Villeneuve is also reportedly frustrated over the decision to give Dune an HBO Max bow and would rather see it have a theatrical-only release.
This new release pattern will begin with Wonder Woman 1984 on Dec. 25. WarnerMedia films will be available for their first months on HBO Max while also screening in theaters. Following the first month, each film will only be available in domestic and international theaters.
The full HBO Max 2021 movie lineup includes The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In The Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Malignant, Dune, The Many Saints of Newark, King Richard, Cry Macho and Matrix 4.
Directed by Adam Wingard and written by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein, Godzilla vs. Kong stars Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on May 21, 2021.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve from a script he co-wrote with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts, Dune stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet Kynes, Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Dave Bautista Glossu Rabban, David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Stephen Henderson as Thufir Hawat and Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on Oct. 1, 2021.
Source: Variety