Creative

Reviewing the hybrid distribution of Wonder Woman 1984

After having its release date pushed no fewer than four times, Wonder Woman 1984 will officially debut in U.S. theaters and on HBO Max on Dec. 25. This news came shortly before Warner Bros. made the decision to make all of its 2021 movies available on the streaming service at the same time they hit theaters. Under this new model, each film will have a one-month access period on HBO Max – concurrent with its release date – before leaving the platform and continuing to air in theaters. 

Though not ideal, this is probably the best-case scenario for the Wonder Woman sequel. Chances are, Warner Bros.’ hybrid distribution model will serve as the prototype for 2021 theatrical releases at other large film studios going forward. For years, movie-watching habits have been shifting, with viewers increasingly favoring the convenience of online streaming services over the traditional theater experience. The coronavirus pandemic has only further exacerbated these trends.

As a second wave of the coronavirus hits the U.S. and the U.K., most theaters have decided to temporarily shut-down, citing postponed release dates and increasing case numbers as the main reasons for mass closures. In the past seven days, over 1.3 million U.S. COVID-19 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control. Despite the promise of a viable vaccine on the horizon, the present situation is grim, with the number of U.S. virus deaths surpassing the spring peak, according to The New York Times. 

While it isn’t clear how exactly this dual release model will impact profits, Craig Moffett, founding partner of analyst firm MoffettNathanson, estimates the decision could cost Warner Bros. $1.2 billion in box-office revenue annually. For Warner Bros., the prospective costs of their hybrid distribution model will largely depend on if they can lure new subscribers to the HBO Max platform. And this possibility isn’t out of the question.

When Disney made the controversial decision to drop its live-action Mulan directly to the Disney+ platform this past September, downloads of Disney+ spiked 68%, according to a Yahoo News article. With that being said, Disney released Mulan straight to Disney+ for a fee, while Warner Bros. will release Wonder Woman 1984 to all HBO Max subscribers automatically. So, it’s sort of comparing apples to oranges here.

In any case, releasing the Wonder Woman sequel concurrently on HBO Max and in theaters is a no-brainer. There’s no telling what theatrical demand will look like, even after the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed and more in-person events and gatherings are made possible. Will people even feel comfortable going to theaters at that point? Will they want to spare the extra expense during a time of widespread economic difficulty? Studios should be making bold moves and taking a risk with innovative release strategies right now. 

Ultimately, any long term changes to the theatrical model will be dependent on the preferences of consumers. I, for one, will always treasure the immersive movie-theater experience. There are few pleasures akin to seeing a film on the big screen, in surround sound, among a fellow group of movie-goers reacting to scenes together in real-time. 

As streaming platforms continue to grow, I hope that the traditional movie-theater experience will not be forsaken in the name of convenience. Like with most things, only time will tell.

The Mandalorian Season 2 Trailer Reviewed

The Mandalorian season 2 will follow the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda on their journey across the galaxy, as the bounty hunter continues to search for the Child’s home. As teased in the season’s first trailer released ahead of the show’s Oct. 30 premiere, the expedition won’t be an easy one, showing several firefights and duels that await the dynamic duo. 

Mando (Pedro Pascal) will be forced to grapple with rival bounty hunters in addition to the brutal Empire, which is still in pursuit of the Child, for reasons unknown. And to make matters worse, unbeknownst to the eponymous bounty hunter, ruthless former high-ranking Imperial official, Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) survived, despite his ship crashing. Armed with the mythical Darksaber and a new thirst for vengeance, Gideon is poised to be a serious force to reckon with.

The path to finding the Child’s true origins will also bring Mando and Baby Yoda to the Jedi Order, as hinted at in the season 2 trailer. “The songs of eons past tell of battles between Mandalore the Great and an order of sorcerers called Jedi,” says the Armorer (Emily Swallow) in a voiceover. Presumably, this is how Mando will cross paths with Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson). 

Tano is an iconic character from the Clone Wars animated films and series who was trained as Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice. This will be Skywalker’s former padawan’s live-action debut, after years of being voiced by Ashley Eckstein. Temuera Morrison has also been cast to play Boba Fett in the series, although it has been rumored that the character will only play a minor role on the show. Despite reports of only a brief cameo, Boba Fett’s presence alone serves as confirmation that he survived the Sarlacc pit from Return of the Jedi. 

With so many questions looming (How did Gideon get possession of the Darksaber? What are its powers? How did Boba Fett survive?), season 2 certainly has a lot of ground to cover.

The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney+. Be sure to catch a new episode every Friday.