Hollywood studios in dilemma after producers-plexes talks fail

MUMBAI: Hollywood studios are in a dilemma over their movie release plan in India after talks failed yesterday between the United Producers & Distributors Forum and national multiplex chains over revenue sharing terms for Hindi films.

As was reported by Businessofcinema.com last month, some studios had postponed the release of their films in India in order to show their support to the producers.

Two big movies that are slated to release from Fox Star Studios and Sony Pictures Releasing of India are the Hugh Jackman starrer X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Tom Hanks starrer Angels & Demons respectively. Promotions and marketing activities of both movies had been kept on hold until yesterday's meeting.

Sources inform Businessofcinema.com that a couple of Hollywood studios will be taking a final call on the release dates in the next couple of days after having discussions with their head offices in the US. "Hollywood studios were waiting for the outcome of the meeting that was held between the multiplexes and producers' body yesterday. Based on the outcome, they were to take a call on their release strategy as most of them have held on to their films' promotion," says a source.

20th Century Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which released worldwide on 1 May grossed $87 million in its opening weekend. The movie was supposed to release in India on the same day. However, as per information available, Fox Star Studios is now planning to release the movie on 22 May in India. A final decision on this has not yet been arrived at.

On the other hand, Sony Pictures' Angels & Demons, which is slated to release on 15 May in major markets, was also slotted for release in India on the same day. Whether Sony will release the movie in India on 15 May, with only a one week window for promotions in hand, remains to be seen. Additionally, Sony had also slotted the release of Terminator Salvation on 29 May. If Angels & Demons gets pushed ahead, so will Terminator Salvation.

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