UPDATE 2: “Great business” might be underselling it: Encore just pushed Endgame past Avatar for the all-time record.
UPDATE: Sony joins the wave, planning a Spider-Man: Brand New Day re-release with new scenes.
In August, CBN’s Paramount source laid out the plan: catalog movies and directors’ cuts back in theaters, new Blu-rays and collector’s merch behind them, and other studios lining up to run the same campaigns.
One month later, it is playing out on every marquee.
Regal just announced a six-movie James Bond series, one film from each 007 actor, running October 5 through November 9.
Disney put Avengers: Endgame back in theaters Friday, and Encore is topping the weekend box office with an estimated $26 million.
Now the same source is back: “Scoop confirmed. Plenty more to come from all studios. It’s great business.”
What The Source Said In August
On August 11, the source told us Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery were planning directors’ cuts in theaters as a “celebration of movies” series featuring Snyder, Ayer, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Harry Potter.
The reasoning then: “Easy quick way to make money from loyal fandoms and gauge demand for future projects.”
On August 31, the same source said the play was going industry-wide: “Many more to come in the next 6-12 months,” adding, “I’m hearing other studios are planning similar campaigns.”
Paramount ran step one September 4-8, putting the Star Trek directors’ cuts back in theaters with Enterprise popcorn vessels at the concession stand and the 60th anniversary Blu-ray sets landing the same week.
And on September 22, the play landed in the merger settlement: Paramount promised theaters at least 30 movies a year, and re-releases count toward that number.
Zack Snyder even said he wants to release a director’s cut of Sucker Punch.
‘Nothing Better To Stir Up Interest In Old IPs’
The source also spells out why every studio wants in.
“Nothing better to stir up interest in old IPs than re-releasing them in theaters,” we’re told. “Plus you sell DVDs, popcorn buckets, commemorative items, etc.”
That is already how these events are built. The Star Trek weekend came with collectibles at the concession stand and new discs in stores.
The Bond series has merch potential written all over it, with a movie from a different 007 era on the marquee every week.
One weekend put an Avengers movie back at #1 and six Bonds on the calendar. Per the source, the rest of the studios are next.
This was one of three updates from our insider today. The other two: the dailies have the studio expecting a mega hit with The Batman Part II, and David Ellison spent Thursday night at the White House state dinner for Xi Jinping.
