Godzilla Vs. Kong Legendary Pictures is seeking at least $ 250 million for AT&T-owned WarnerMedia to send the movie with monsters to HBO Max streaming service, according to a new report. Last month, Netflix reportedly offered more than $ 200 million to send the five-delayed sequel to MonsterVerse to its streaming service, but the deal was blocked by WarnerMedia. Days later, the parent company Warner Bros. announced that it will send the entire list of 17 films of the studio – inclusive Dune and The Suicide Team, as well as Godzilla Vs. Kong – to HBO Max on the same day they open in theaters under a one-year hybrid launch model.
Almost immediately, Legendary was reported – which funded 75% of both Godzilla Vs. Kong and Denis Villeneuve studded with stars Dune – was considering legal action in connection with WarnerMedia’s unilateral decision to send the two potential cash flow factors. Transactions in the industry reported that Legendary was not informed about the strategy for launching the hybrid model before the WarnerMedia announcement on December 3.
Godzilla Vs. Kong may still broadcast the day and date on May 21 if Warner Bros. concludes a transaction with Legendary using the Netflix price of over $ 200 million as a basis, according to Deadline. Warner Bros. it has already made tens of millions The Wonderful Woman 1984 director-producer Patty Jenkins and star producer Gal Gadot will provide an HBO Max release for the sequel to DC Films, which is the first big-budget timeline going to streaming service.
After the movement left the talent of the industry and their agents in orbit, the decision to send theatrically planned titles to streaming attracted fierce criticism from the studio’s high-intensity film producers such as Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan (The dark knight trilogy, Principle).
“We live in unprecedented times that require creative solutions, including this new initiative for Warner Bros. Pictures Group, ”said Ann Sarnoff, president and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, in a statement announcing the hybrid distribution model. “No one wants the movies to return to the big screen more than we do. We know that new content is the essence of theatrical exposure, but we need to balance that with the fact that most theaters in the United States are likely to operate at low capacity throughout 2021. “
Sarnoff continued: “With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in the exhibition with a steady stream of world-class films, while providing viewers who do not have access to cinemas or are not ready to return to the movies. they have the chance to see our amazing films from 2021. We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors and we are extremely grateful to our film partners for collaborating with us on this innovative response to these circumstances. “
Godzilla Vs. Kong is currently set for a day and date release in theaters and on HBO Max on May 21, 2021.