Godzilla to Kong Producer Legendary Pictures is looking to raise at least $ 250 million for AT&T-owned WarnerMedia to send the monster movie to streaming service HBO Max, according to a new report. Last month, Netflix reportedly offered more than $ 200 million to send the five-time delayed MonsterVerse sequel to its streaming service, but that deal was blocked by WarnerMedia. Days later, Warner Bros. parent company announced indicated that it would send the full slate of 17 movies to the studio – inclusive Dune and The Suicide Squad, like Godzilla to Kong – for HBO Max on the same day they open in theaters under a one-year hybrid release model.
Almost immediately it was reported as Legendary – which funded 75% of both Godzilla to Kong and that of Denis Villeneuve with stars Dune – is considering legal action over WarnerMedia’s unilateral decision to send the two potential money makers to streaming. Industry deals reported that Legendary had also not been informed of the hybrid model’s release strategy prior to WarnerMedia’s Dec. 3 announcement.
Godzilla to Kong can still stream day-and-date on May 21 if Warner Bros. strikes a deal with Legendary using the $ 200 + million Netflix price tag as a base, according to Deadline. Warner Bros. has already distributed tens of millions to Wonder Woman 1984 director-producer Patty Jenkins and star producer Gal Gadot are getting an HBO Max release for the sequel to DC Films, the first big-budget tent pole to go to the streaming service.
After the move left industry talent and their agents dazzled, the decision to send theatrically planned titles to streaming received harsh criticism from the studio’s heavy-hitter filmmakers such as Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan (The dark knight trilogy, Tenet).
“We live in unprecedented times that call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” said Ann Sarnoff, Chairman and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group in a statement announcing the hybrid distribution model. “No one wants movies back on the big screen more than we do. We know that new content is the lifeblood of a theatrical exhibition, but we need to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the US will likely run at reduced capacity by 2021. to work. “
Sarnoff continued, “With this unique one-year plan, we can support our exhibition partners with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also providing moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or are not quite ready to go back to the films the opportunity to see our fantastic films from 2021. We see it as a win-win for film buffs and exhibitors, and we are extremely grateful to our film-making partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances. ”
Godzilla vs. Kong is currently scheduled for a day-and-date release in theaters and on HBO Max on May 21, 2021.