'Crouching Tiger' sequel premiering on Netflix in 2015
Quote:
Netflix has reached a deal with The Weinstein Co. for its first original movie -- a sequel to Ang Lee's 2000 martial arts pic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" -- set to hit IMAX theaters and the streaming-video service simultaneously next summer.
The film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend," is slated for a Aug. 28, 2015, debut. Produced by Weinstein Co., the movie is the first of several major films to premiere day-and-date both on the SVOD service and in select IMAX theaters worldwide.
Netflix has been eyeing day-and-date releases of movies, as chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a keynote last year at the Film Independent Forum in Los Angeles. The launch of the movie is likely to catch the ire of exhibitors -- who have in the past viewed digital encroachment on theatrical windows as a threat.
Meanwhile, Netflix already has an output deal with Weinstein Co. that makes the Internet-streaming provider the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run films from TWC, beginning in 2016, and has other deals with the studio including for original series "Marco Polo."
"Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty," Sarandos said in a statement. "We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with IMAX, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/e...YmGwprtaUfU.99
The sequel sounds messy (come on did this really need a sequel...) but putting it on Netflix and IMAX simultaneously sounds interesting.