Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster Tenet delayed again, as coronavirus batters Hollywood profits

The shake-up could leave Hollywood with its worst drought of summer blockbusters since Jaws ushered in the concept in 1975

Studios could have a tough time recouping their investment in films like Tenet and Mulan, both of which had budgets around US$200 million

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Director Christopher Nolan at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:08pm, 26 Jun 2020Updated: 7:29pm, 26 Jun 2020

Warner Bros has again delayed the release of the movie Tenet, the new blockbuster from director Christopher Nolan, setting back efforts by theatre chains to save the summer season.

The film will now come out on August 12, two weeks later than expected. In an unusual move, the studio plans to put the movie out on a Wednesday and keep it in theatres “over an extended play period far beyond the norm”. The idea is to give audiences wary of visiting the cinema immediately a chance to see it on the big screen.

Warner Bros and Nolan have been at odds over the timing, with the director pushing for an earlier premiere and the studio taking a more cautious approach, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. The sci-fi psychological thriller stars John David Washington, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh.

There’s growing speculation among theatre chains that more schedule changes are looming, with Walt Disney’s Mulan slated for July 24, also in jeopardy. The heads of the major cinema chains, including market leader AMC Entertainment Holdings, have said they expect the release calendar to shift around in response to the pandemic, and that they’ll be more flexible than normal.

Disney previously delayed Mulan from March to July following the shutdown of theatres across the US to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Now it’s considering pushing it back again, The Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter. Disney didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.