"Mowgli" in theaters 11/29/18 and Netflix 12/7/18

[Malcolm R]

Title: Mowgli (2019)

Tagline: Outcast. Survivor. Legend

Genre: Adventure, Drama

Director: Andy Serkis

Cast: Rohan Chand, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Naomie Harris, Peter Mullan, Eddie Marsan, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Jack Reynor, Matthew Rhys, Tom Hollander, Keveshan Pillay, Riaz Mansoor, Jayden Fowora-Knight, Georgie Farmer, John Benfield

Release: 2019-12-31

Plot: A human child raised by wolves, must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.

Warner Bros and Andy Serkis' Mowgli, a darker take on The Jungle Book, will premiere on Netflix in 2019. The film, a mix of live action and motion-capture, had been set for a fall 2018 theatrical release.

http://ew.com/movies/2018/07/27/mowgli-netflix-andy-serkis-jungle-book-movie-2019/

 

[Edwin-S]

Like we needed yet another telling of this story. I think I can wait on NETFLIX for this one and possibly not even then.

 

[Tino]

From what I’ve read its a radically different telling of the story we know.

It looks interesting and considering the talent involved I’m really looking forward to it. And it sounds like a theatrical 3D presentation will happen too.

 

[dpippel]

It's the timing that has me disinterested in this film. Favreau's The Jungle Book was released a mere 2 years ago, and was a very good movie. I have zero interest in seeing this "darker" take on Kipling's story so close on the heels of that effort.

 

[Edwin-S]

I just find Hollywood's constant re-treading of the same books and stories boring already. It doesn't matter what "the take" is. It is still just another re-treading of the Kipling's "The Jungle Book". There are millions of books out there to adapt. Try doing something different already.

 

[dpippel]

Couldn't agree more Edwin.

 

[Malcolm R]

It's the timing that has me disinterested in this film. Favreau's The Jungle Book was released a mere 2 years ago, and was a very good movie. I have zero interest in seeing this "darker" take on Kipling's story so close on the heels of that effort.

Both projects were actually announced and in pre-production at the same time, competing to see who would get out first. But Serkis said he needed more time to complete the motion capture the way he wanted it done, so they ceded the first release date to Disney.

Netflix has purchased worldwide rights to this project, so I don't believe there's any theatrical release planned, 3D or otherwise.

 

[Worth]

I just find Hollywood's constant re-treading of the same books and stories boring already. It doesn't matter what "the take" is. It is still just another re-treading of the Kipling's "The Jungle Book". There are millions of books out there to adapt. Try doing something different already.

At the very least, no more origin stories. Anyone interested enough in buying a ticket already knows how Superman and Spiderman came to be.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I suspect Warner Bros. thinks it's a turkey and unloaded it. If it was a great movie and they had high expectations for it, they wouldn't let go of it.

My feeling is that there was really no reason for Warner to move forward with this once it became clear that Disney was going to do one. Especially for a brand that is already associated with Disney due to the animated classic, Warner Bros. really needs to leave these live-action adaptations to Disney and focus on other properties. They should have learned that when Pan bombed.

There's some lip service in the Deadline article about the 3D version having a theatrical release still, but it seems like they're just saying that. Unless Netflix is actually willing to have the theatrical release get a 90-day window before launching the streaming release, theaters won't play ball on this.

 

[Tino]

Both projects were actually announced and in pre-production at the same time, competing to see who would get out first. But Serkis said he needed more time to complete the motion capture the way he wanted it done, so they ceded the first release date to Disney.

Netflix has purchased worldwide rights to this project, so I don't believe there's any theatrical release planned, 3D or otherwise.

“I’m really excited about Netflix for Mowgli,” Serkis told Deadline. “Now, we avoid comparisons to the other movie and it’s a relief not to have the pressure. I’ve seen the 3D version, and it’s exceptional, a different view from the 2D version, really lush and with great depth, and there will be some kind of theatrical component for that.

https://deadline.com/2018/07/netfli...te-blanchett-benedict-cumberbatch-1202434903/

 

[Jake Lipson]

I'll believe the theatrical release is happening only when I see it has actually booked in a theater near me and tickets are on sale. That might be their intention right now, but Netflix also said they were going to do a day-and-date release of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel on the streaming service and in theaters. It didn't happen. Theater owners wouldn't cooperate.

The only way to give Mowgli a theatrical release with any meaningful screen count would be if Netflix concedes to allow the theatrical release to take place at least 90 days prior to the streaming launch. I seriously doubt they will change their MO for this, especially if they paid WB a lot to get it.

 

[Tino]

The difference is this is a 3D film.

A tremendous amount of time money and effort went into creating a 3D version so I do believe it will be released theatrically. Not a wide release for sure but hopefully one where 3D fans can see it.

 

[Malcolm R]

Who would do the theatrical release? Does Netflix have some distribution capability or an agreement with a theatrical distributor? Since Netflix has purchased the worldwide rights, I'd think WB is out of it and it would be up to Netflix to arrange any theatrical option.

If it happens, hopefully it's also a fairly wide release and not just a handful of screens in NYC/LA.

 

[Jake Lipson]

A tremendous amount of time money and effort went into creating a 3D version so I do believe it will be released theatrically.

Theater owners won't care if it's 3D or not. Only a tiny number of mostly independent theaters would agree to play something if it is simultaneously available on Netflix, even if the Netflix version isn't 3D.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but it will be super-minimal. Unless Netflix actually decides to allow the theatrical release to go first, in which case it could be wider, but that would be a first for them.

Who would do the theatrical release?

Beasts of No Nation had a really small theatrical release and was released via a distribution deal that Netflix struck for that one title with Blecker Street. It played in a maximum theater count of 31 theaters over a 2-week period and grossed $90,777. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beastsofnonation.htm. I happen to have lived near one of the 31 screens at the time, so I went to see it to support the idea of a theatrical release, but it obviously wasn't very crowded. There were only a few other people there besides me.

Alternatively, Netflix could buy out screens somewhere as a paid rental, which I think they've done before in order to make some of their films Oscar-eligible. In this case, Netflix rents the theater as though every seat were filled, so I don't think the theater really cares if anyone comes under those circumstances or not because they're being paid anyway.

 

[Brandon Conway]

Both projects were actually announced and in pre-production at the same time,

Yep. Serkis shot the film in 2015 and wrapped production of the motion capture before the Disney film was released.

I feel bad for Serkis since this is clearly a project he's been passionate about for years, and he chose it as his directorial debut because of that interest. (It's been delayed so long that another film he directed after this one became his debut last year). However, the market realities really altered the narrative surrounding the film, and Netflix picking this up helps him sidestep what was obviously going to be a box office disaster no matter how good the film is. It's all about perception, and perception for 99% of movie goers is that they already saw this film recently, and why doesn't this one have fun silly songs too? Much better chance of this film finding its audience on Netflix where nobody "needs to pay" for it.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Well, for whatever it's worth, Netflix has doubled down on Andy Serkis by acquiring the rights to Animal Farm, which he will direct using the same motion capture technology he applied to Mowgli.

https://deadline.com/2018/08/animal...netflix-george-orwell-matt-reeves-1202438261/

 

[Brandon Conway]

Well, for whatever it's worth, Netflix has doubled down on Andy Serkis by acquiring the rights to Animal Farm, which he will direct using the same motion capture technology he applied to Mowgli.

https://deadline.com/2018/08/animal...netflix-george-orwell-matt-reeves-1202438261/

It's worth a lot to me, as Animal Farm was the other project Serkis was keen on, but in 2014 when he was talking to Warner about directing his first film for them the two parties agreed that The Jungle Book was a more marketable property. Then Disney sniped them. In any case, Animal Farm in Serkis' hands could be a real fascinating exploration of power politics, and with Netflix producing it there wouldn't be the built in bias of people assuming it's only a children's tale.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I meant more in terms of how it relates to Mowgli, because obviously Animal Farm is worth something, but if Netflix thought Mowgli was bad, they wouldn't be in a rush to rehire Serkis.

 

[Malcolm R]

Info about the theatrical release of Mowgli. Exclusive in a few cities on 11/29, then wider after 12/7 (plus on Netflix). No mention of 3D option.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...theatrical-release-andy-serkis-mowgli-1159414

 

[Jake Lipson]

The big chains (AMC, Cinemark, Regal) won't accept that since the window for the Netflix run is too close to the theatrical release date. So they must be going to independently-owned theaters like art houses, even though this does not look like an art-housey-type film. For the record, my local non-chain art house has 3D capability in one of its three screens, so they could book it that way if they wanted to do so.