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Despite some recent news from Deadline today about Dune heading to theaters prior to its release on HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s Head of Communication Johanna Fuentes says the blockbuster adaptation is still on the path to a “Same Day” release. The “Same Day” release was started up in 2021 by Warner Brothers as a means of bringing more viewers to the company’s streaming service HBO Max while also releasing films in theaters wherever possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
#Dune will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max on the same day in the US. (Source: Warner Bros.) https://t.co/SiFpbz0nK2
— Johanna Fuentes (@jfuentes) May 17, 2021
WarnerMedia has recently made headlines as its parent company AT&T, the telecommunications behemoth, struck up a deal to spin the company off alongside Discovery in a joint venture. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is set to take charge of the new company, of which a new name will be introduced in the coming days, while reports of HBO Max’s CEO Jason Kilar works to negotate his exit from AT&T and WarnerMedia. The deal is expected to cost roughly $43 million, while AT&T shareholders will hold a 71% stake in the new company. The move comes only three years after AT&T stepped into the Hollywood ring with their massive buyout of Time Warner for $85 million in 2018, $12 million more than Disney paid for 21st Century Fox one year later.
HBO Max has seen a growth in subscribers since its inception in May of 2020, and currently boasts 44.2 million subscribers as of April 2021. Films such as Godzilla v Kong, Mortal Kombat, and The Suicide Squad have either already released both in theaters and on the infant streaming service, or are set to in the coming months. Earlier this year, WarnerMedia announced they would implement this “Same Day” release for their entire slate of films in 2021, causing some commotion in the industry. Previously, the company had released Wonder Woman 1984 as a “Same Day” film, and its success led to the continuation of the practice.
Dune is directed by Denis Villenueve and is based on the Frank Herbert novel of the same name. It is expected to be the first in a two-part duology that encapsulates the entirety of the novel. The sci-fi flick will star Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Mamoa, and many other powerhouse talents. Prior to its “Same Day” release, Dune will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The official synopsis reads:
“A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.”
Are you excited Dune will still release on HBO Max come October 1st? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagarm (@thecinemaspot_) to stay up to date with the latest Dune and WarnerMedia news!
Sources: Deadline, Johanna Fuentes
Hi! I'm Zach, the Editor-in-Chief here at The Cinema Spot. The TCS team and I are always hard at work to put out the best content we can, and we're even developing a few new features! Be sure to keep an eye out for the latest contests, daily news articles, comprehensive reviews, and more!
