While official statements have been slim on the ground, it does look like most major production studios are returning to exclusive theatrical releases for their 2022 slate. Now it seems Sony has committed to the same. Entertainment attorney with Blake & Wang P.A, and well-known industry expert, Brandon Blake has a little more for us.
2022 ‘top-tier’ films will have theatrical releases
Despite the growing concerns over the Omicron Variant, Sony’s Tony Vinciquerra is now on record as stating that their ‘top-tier’ IPs and movie slate for 2022 will remain with a theatrical-only release at first, rather than return to hybrid schedules. This included mention of both Spiderman and the Jumanji franchise. While there was no focus on intended exclusive windows, it’s reasonable to assume that the near-standard 45-day release could be possible, or at least the 31-day release window we’ve seen used recently.
Among mentions of the commitment to theaters and other invested parties, increased piracy on digital platforms was mentioned as a driving factor of the wholescale return to theaters. Despite this commitment to theatrical releases for their 15 key 2022 titles, he did mention that they were not viewing the current release schedule as anything but tentative, reiterating a willingness to move films as seems best under current conditions and bearing the global health crisis in mind.
Producing for Netflix
It’s worth remembering, of course, that Netflix and Sony now have a pay one deal active in which some Sony films are also being developed to debut on Netflix. What Netflix chooses to do with them, as it expands its theatrical rollouts, will be interesting. It’s also noteworthy that a large chunk, as many of 10 titles, of Sony’s upcoming films, are being developed from PlayStation titles, hoping to tie that valuable arm of their owned properties into their movie industry options.
It looks like there will be an interesting year ahead for Sony in 2022, and the news of another studio committing to theatrical releases will no doubt be well-received industry-wide, too.
Film and Television 