Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins doesn't appear to have any qualms about the film premiering on HBO Max day and date with its theatrical release.
"I never thought I would feel this way about the decision to switch to streaming and theatrical," Jenkins told EW. "In this case, your priority as a filmmaker is to make a movie that moves and reaches audiences so they have communion together in a theater. But there's no way better to do that right now than send people who are suffering and who might be with their family something to watch together."
After numerous release date changes, many of which stemmed from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Warner Bros. confirmed Wonder Woman 1984 would be available on HBO Max Christmas Day in the United States at no additional cost. Notably, it's also the first film on HBO Max available in 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
"As we navigate these unprecedented times, we've had to be innovative in keeping our businesses moving forward while continuing to super-serve our fans," WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group Chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff said. "This is an amazing film that really comes to life on the big screen and, working with our partners in the exhibition community, we will provide that option to consumers in the U.S. where theaters are open. We realize that a lot of consumers can’t go back to the movies due to the pandemic, so we also want to give them the option to see Wonder Woman 1984 via our HBO Max platform."
In early December, it was reported that Jenkins and Wonder Woman 1984 star Gal Gadot were both paid upwards of $10 million to get them on board with the hybrid release model and compensate them for what the film would have presumably made with a normal theatrical release.
As an archaeologist, Diana who works at the Smithsonian Museum, is a Wonder Woman who has extraordinary superpowers, said to be the strongest hero in the world. In 1984, Wonder Woman is in desperate deadly danger in face of an enormous conspiracy of the businessman Max, who sings loudly to fulfill people's desires, and a mysterious foe, Cheetah. Can Wonder Woman stop the world’s collapse alone?
Directed and co-written by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal and Natasha Rothwell. The film arrives in theaters and HBO Max Dec. 25.
Source: EW