Film Now Introducing HBO Max Classic

[Juan1193]

Looks like Nolan is jumping ship to Disney!

...okay not necessarily, more likely Paramount or Universal but wow if Nolan really does leave Warners than that is sure to be a huge loss for them.

oh well. A new film maker will get his spot. Time is already showing WB’s hybrid plan was the right call. 2021 film season is going to follow the same path as 2020

 

[writer0327]

Looks like Nolan is jumping ship to Disney!

...okay not necessarily, more likely Paramount or Universal but wow if Nolan really does leave Warners than that is sure to be a huge loss for them.

Wow.
WB really dropped the ball on this one. A simple conversation with the creatives would have gone a long way

 

[Filmfreak]

oh well. A new film maker will get his spot.

It's probably going to be a loss for both parties but mostly for WB. Nolan might not get the blank checks that they gave him or have the exact creative freedom for anything he wants, but the way Warner has been treating their talent they're losing their credibility and it's going to cost them much more in the future. Plus, studios are going to line up to work with a director like Nolan.

Time is already showing WB’s hybrid plan was the right call. 2021 film season is going to follow the same path as 2020

How so? We know that Wonder Woman had attracted more subscribers for HBO Max and it helped raising their streaming share, but we don't know exactly how that translates to numbers and profits yet. And while right now the hybrid model is surely better than just releasing it theatrically, there's no doubt they're still going to lose a ton of money that they wouldn't have to, had they released it in cinemas only, but at a safer time.

 

[writer0327]

It's probably going to be a loss for both parties but mostly for WB. Nolan might not get the blank checks that they gave him or have the exact creative freedom for anything he wants, but the way Warner has been treating their talent they're losing their credibility and it's going to cost them much more in the future. Plus, studios are going to line up to work with a director like Nolan.

He's the #1 free agent, so to speak. It's going to be a major bidding war ala James Gunn after Disney canned him. I expect Disney to come out on top.

 

[Filmfreak]

I don't think Nolan and Disney would be the best match, to be honest. Maybe on 20th Century Studios, but I agree that Universal and Paramount are more likely. Interstellar was co-financed by the latter.

 

[NotNickFury]

I mean, Amazon or Netflix would probably give Nolan the free, creative control that he likes, but again, a good number of their projects are streaming-related, which we already know he's no fan of.

Ah, well. The man is allowed to be stubborn, even if WB could've been better at communicating this to directors. Still, we are still in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, so not like there's much WB or other studios could've done that everyone would like. It's a Kobayashi Maru situation.

 

[Closerframe]

I've already said repeatedly that WB should have informed partners and directors of this decision. However, Nolan is being overdramatic.

Someone on another forum summed this up perfectly....

The studio gives Nolan an exclusive theatrical release (satisfying his ego) in his attempt to save cinema. Unsurprisingly his $200 million film fails in the midst of a global pandemic. The studio uses the info gathered to shift gears and protect their other film makers, actors and production partners from tremendous financial uncertainty. Chris Nolan sides with theatres over the studio that's backed his every whim for the past two decades.

 

[Filmfreak]

"Protect the other film-makers" is the most hilarious argument I've read regarding the matter and exactly the opposite of what WB did.

It has little to do with satisfying an ego or even supporting cinemas for that matter and more to do with the studio's lack of communicative skills and work values. They decided to breach contracts and change distribution agreements without consulting anyone about it. Not even co-financing studios like Legendary who paid three times the money WB did for production of certain movies.

Also I very much doubt that Warner didn't want to release Tenet too. They were pushing hard for Wonder Woman 1984 for half a year, by delaying it only a few weeks or a couple of months each time. Even before the hybrid model they were planning to release it sooner rather than later to cover expenses. Same with Tenet.

 

[Juan1193]

It's probably going to be a loss for both parties but mostly for WB. Nolan might not get the blank checks that they gave him or have the exact creative freedom for anything he wants, but the way Warner has been treating their talent they're losing their credibility and it's going to cost them much more in the future. Plus, studios are going to line up to work with a director like Nolan.


How so? We know that Wonder Woman had attracted more subscribers for HBO Max and it helped raising their streaming share, but we don't know exactly how that translates to numbers and profits yet. And while right now the hybrid model is surely better than just releasing it theatrically, there's no doubt they're still going to lose a ton of money that they wouldn't have to, had they released it in cinemas only, but at a safer time.

So you think continuing to delay films is the right call? Because that is what is currently happening with all the other studios and their films (Black Widow and Bond already being rumored to move). Universal delayed F9 a whole year and the pandemic has only gotten worse, especially in the USA. They just can’t keep sitting on these films and pushing all their content back. Summer 2021 isn’t happening, maybe Winter 2021 will happen, but that will depend on how vaccinations go... just saying I know a ton of people who don’t want it and will likely protest it (in liberal CA of all places)... can’t imagine how vaccinations will go in deep red states (where there’s a lot of anti maskers).

 

[Filmfreak]

That's exactly it. If there were actual evidence that this streaming strategy was the right call, other studios would have followed. WB took this decision in order to boost the underwhelming start of their streaming platform that they rushed to launch without proper planning and time given.

As for the virus i's going to be a long while until things come back completely to normal but the situation will be far more stabilised come fall. If things go as planned, we won't of course be talking about billion dollar films, but there is going to be a substantial increase in box office gross.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Disney has moved what? 5-6 movies from theaters to exclusive streaming on Disney+? Its been the right move depending on the film but everyone is still in fear of losing money, even if they can afford to do so.

 

[Mysteryman]

oh well. A new film maker will get his spot. Time is already showing WB’s hybrid plan was the right call. 2021 film season is going to follow the same path as 2020

What if Nolan isn't the only creative that they lose?
Nolan may have just opened the floodgates.

 

[kguillou]

I dont think Nolan is leaving, this is a lover’s quarrel. WB screwed up but they’re still Warner Bros, one of the biggest movie studios of the past century. Their name behind your movie carries tremendous weight and always will. There are thousands upon thousands of young hungry filmmakers who will gladly work with WB and create the next Inception. Nolan’s upset, a lot of the filmmakers are but they’ll kiss and make up eventually.

 

[Sithborg]

What if Nolan isn't the only creative that they lose?
Nolan may have just opened the floodgates.

We have lost one of the major film distributors. The options for the types of films Nolan makes is more limited. And guess what, Disney isn't interested.

As for the streaming services, keep in mind, Disney and WB are the only ones that have one. Universal and Sony do not. What is going to happen in 2022 when you have a blockbuster movie every week for three months straight?

 

[DlAMONDZ]

Will Sony or Universal give him 200m+ for original projects?

 

[writer0327]

We have lost one of the major film distributors. The options for the types of films Nolan makes is more limited. And guess what, Disney isn't interested.

Why wouldn't Disney be interested in one of the best filmmakers of this generation?

 

[Sithborg]

Why wouldn't Disney be interested in one of the best filmmakers of this generation?

Because they out box office him with cheaper journeyman. Nolan is not fit for the Disney brand. And so far, Fox just seems a source for more franchises, rather than developing new movies.

 

[Filmfreak]

Disney has moved what? 5-6 movies from theaters to exclusive streaming on Disney+? Its been the right move depending on the film but everyone is still in fear of losing money, even if they can afford to do so.

Why should they lose money, though? Just so that they can satisfy a portion of the audience that wants the films now because they can't wait until later? Releasing them at a future date would be more profitable for the studio, more beneficiary for the film-makers involved, it would help cinemas economically and the films would play on the silver screen that they were made for.

Disney is only releasing some family ones, to cover expenses. Not their huge tentpoles movies and certainly not their entire slate. Of course some of the animated ones are quite costly but not 200+ million and they have a specific crowd that favours streaming releases.

 

[Closerframe]

Will Sony or Universal give him 200m+ for original projects?

As long as he agrees to direct a Fast and Furious movie first....

 

[DarkKnight88]

As long as he agrees to direct a Fast and Furious movie first....

He's given us a taste!

 

[metaphysician]

Why should they lose money, though? Just so that they can satisfy a portion of the audience that wants the films now because they can't wait until later? Releasing them at a future date would be more profitable for the studio,

This is not even close to being obvious fact, which is why the movie studios have had such a mess of a time deciding how to respond. Is grossing $800M in a year or two more profitable than grossing $400 now? Not necessarily, because time is money. Functionally speaking, movies are funded by loans, and loans accumulate interest. That year or year and a half delay means adding to the accumulated cost of a movie, even before you factor in any added costs from new marketing or distribution or whatnot.

( And even if a studio self-funded a movie outright, this changes nothing, because the time-value of money still apply. That $200M spent out of pocket for a payout in 2 years still has to be compared with the amount it could have earned if loaned out to earn interest. Studios exist to make money, and money made two years late is worth less than money made on time. )

 

[MadVillainy]

People thinking Nolan, if he does leave WB, will have trouble finding another studio to let him do what he wants are tripping.

As someone said Nolan is a top draft pick hate him or love him. His movies have been successes since 2008. TENET didn't do well but obviously that had other circumstances surrounding that.

Wouldn't be surprised if Nolan leaves. Everyone keeps trying to make him or Villaneuve out to be elitist or an a-holes over this are being weird
If you don't agree with what your business partner/employer is doing and you have the option to go somewhere else, then why would you stay?

 

[writer0327]

Because they out box office him with cheaper journeyman. Nolan is not fit for the Disney brand. And so far, Fox just seems a source for more franchises, rather than developing new movies.

I don't know about that, if Disney is smart, they definitely jump in on the Nolan sweepstakes when the bidding begins. I'm not saying Disney needs Nolan, but they'd be insane not to try and acquire his services if/when they become available.

 

[kguillou]

Nolan wouldnt want to work with Disney. I think Nolan is done making comic book/genre movies. So he will not be in the MCU or in the Star Wars world. He wants to make HIS movies. Every time someone asks him about Batman he kind of rolls his eyes at it. To him Batman was a means to an end and now he’s achieved a status where he can make Tenet films the rest of his career.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Nolan wouldnt want to work with Disney. I think Nolan is done making comic book/genre movies. So he will not be in the MCU or in the Star Wars world. He wants to make HIS movies. Every time someone asks him about Batman he kind of rolls his eyes at it. To him Batman was a means to an end and now he’s achieved a status where he can make Tenet films the rest of his career.

I agree, but that said, hopefully future films are better than Tenet