Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ is unlikely to screen for U.S. press in New York and Los Angeles ahead of its international Premiere in Europe, Canada, and select American states.
Nolan's much-anticipated feature is readying itself for a worldwide release, and Warner Bros.couldn’t care less that Governors Cuomo and Newsom are refusing to reopen theaters in their respective states. Fine by me, let the rest of the world catch “Tenet.” I’ve already been invited to watch it at a Canadian press screening happening during its week of release. The David Ehrlichs of this world can complain all they want that this isn’t the time to watch a movie in a theater, but what do I care? I’ll take the risk and go watch Nolan’s movie, social distancing protocols et all.
According to IndieWire’s Kate Erbland:
“Two sources close to Warner Bros. confirmed that press screenings will take place for the film, but it will not screen in markets in which theaters are not currently open. For the moment, that means that “Tenet” won’t be shown to press in major markets like New York City or Los Angeles, where both theaters and smaller screening rooms remain closed.”
New York and Los Angeles are the two biggest markets movie markets in the United States, Arizona also has its theaters closed for business, but close to 80% of theaters all across the country will be open and ready to host screenings of “Tenet.”
Meanwhile, Europe and Canada are all set and ready to become major havens for “Tenet.” Some of the territories set to host “Tenet” screenings on August 26th include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The film will open in the United States over Labor Day weekend in select cities.
I love that Nolan moving it away from New York and Los Angeles, many Americans, and the press, in these cities threw a fit about theaters, so he's just going to skip them altogether. More studios and directors need to do this. If these states are going to shut everything down and throw tantrums, businesses and markets need to move elsewhere. It’s not rocket science, it’s business, baby.