"I’m very pro theatrical release and I will be that again, as soon as this is over"
'Wonder Woman 1984' is set for release on HBO Max and in cinemas in the US this Christmas Day. The announcement of how the superhero sequel would be released was followed by the news that Warner Bros. would be moving its entire 2021 slate to the streaming service.
The decision has rubbed a lot of industry professionals up the wrong way. Now Patty Jenkins, director of 'Wonder Woman' and its follow-up, has broken her silence on the release strategy for 'Wonder Woman 1984'.
Previously, Jenkins expressed fears about the closure of cinemas.
Speaking to Jess Cagle on the SiriusXM Stars channel, the director explains that there was "no good option."
"If you had told me a year ago that we would ever go straight to streaming in any way, shape or form, I would have flipped out," she said.
"Like I’m not for that plan in general, you know, I’m very pro theatrical release and I will be that again, as soon as this is over.
"However, this is such a crazy year. It’s such a crazy year. It’s like all of us are trying to figure out with our lives, how to do everything the best we can. And so I kept saying there is no good option. Like when we would talk about it, there was no good option. Wait until when.
"And then every movie in the world tries to come out at the same time. And you know, there was no good option. I literally gasped a little bit when the pitch for this idea was said, because I was like, ‘Oh, the idea of it going into people’s homes on Christmas Day.’"
She added: "I just was like, you know what, that’s actually pretty incredible to get to share whether, you know, it’s Christmas for people or not the holiday season and in this moment to just try to reach people however they can see it."
Jenkins also spoke to CNN about the release: "It was presented in a very different way, which is that we are at the height of the pandemic right now and people are really suffering and struggling and the choices are to sit on our film and wait or to release it."
She continued: "The number one reason I'm a filmmaker is to try share experiences with mankind and have the communal moment of sharing something. Yes, I loved it when it happens in theaters, but this year I'm so touched and moved that it's going to happen in people's homes when they can't go places and still happen in theaters where they can.
"There's something sort of wonderful about just saying now is the time to release the movie, regardless of all of those other things."
'Wonder Woman 1984' hits cinemas here in Ireland next Wednesday, December 16th.