By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --Amazon Studios might have a streaming component, but executives say the company is fully committed to the theatrical experience.
The young studio in its second year at CinemaCon, an annual gathering of theater owners and exhibitors, reiterated its commitment to preserving the theatrical window Thursday and previewed its upcoming slate of releases. Amazon's streaming and original content competitor, Netflix, did not present at CinemaCon.
"Our customers love great movies and great movies play in theaters," said Amazon executive Jason Ropell. "We really believe in the theatrical experience by fully supporting the theatrical window for our releases."
Last year at CinemaCon, Amazon was a new studio, timidly dipping its toes into the waters alongside the biggest studios in Hollywood. This year, it came back with swagger and a story, boasting Oscar wins for "Manchester by the Sea" and "The Salesman."
One of its most highly anticipated is Todd Haynes' "Wonderstruck," a fanciful coming of age drama set in 1927 and 1977 and starring Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams and "Pete's Dragon's" Oakes Fegley. The film is set for release sometime this year.
Amazon plans at least 15 releases again this year, concentrating on filmmaker-driven projects like Richard Linklater's "Last Flag Flying" about Vietnam vets played by Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell and Laurence Fishburne who reunite years later around a death.
The studio also showed a preview of the Mike White-directed "Brad's Status" starring Ben Stiller in a dramatic turn and the John Cena war pic "The Wall" from "Edge of Tomorrow" director Doug Liman.
Its next release is "Lost City of Z" on April 14 from lyrical filmmaker James Gray. Starring Charlie Hunnam, "Lost City of Z" is a spiritual adventure film about an explorer obsessed with a city he discovered on an expedition.
Hunnam was on site to talk about the arduous jungle shoot and the beetle that crawled into his ear one night during production. The actor also passed out candy to the audience in crowded ballroom at Caesar's Palace along with Kumail Nanjiani, whose rom-com "The Big Sick" launches on June 23.
Amazon's marketing head Bob Berney also announced that Terry Gilliam's long-time-coming "Don Quixote" is currently in production with Adam Driver.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More