Without a doubt, Clint Eastwood has established himself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary cinema. Sadly, while he looks better than ever in his 90s, it seems likely that we may be witnessing his farewell to the director’s chair with “Juror #2,” a courtroom drama thriller set to be released on November 1.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult as Justin Kemp, a family man and juror who faces a serious moral dilemma during a high-profile murder trial, since he possesses crucial information that could sway the jury’s verdict to a decision that will haunt him forever, no matter the outcome.
Naturally, cinema enthusiasts would agree that there is no better news than a Clint Eastwood creation hitting theaters. However, it seems that Warner Bros. may not share the same enthusiasm. Here, discover all the details of the conflict between the iconic filmmaker and the distribution company.
What is going on between Clint Eastwood and Warner Bros?
When “Juror #2” was selected as the opening film for the AFI Fest, it seemed poised to become another Eastwood success. However, just four days later, Warner Bros. announced that the title would only be released in 50 theaters or fewer, with no possibility of expansion, regardless of its box office performance. Additionally, as reported by Variety, the release is confirmed to be limited to the U.S., U.K., France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the distributor is seriously considering not disclosing any box office data. While this decision is surprising, it does not come as a complete shock, given that the picture was originally intended for a direct-to-streaming release. The lack of Oscar potential, according to insiders, has also influenced the distribution strategy.
Although Warner Bros. has traditionally been Eastwood’s most important ally over the past fifty years, the reality is that his 2021 coming-of-age contemporary western “Cry Macho” left a significant financial gap , grossing only $16.5 million worldwide against a $33 million production budget. While the flick’s underperformance was partly due to the pandemic, there appears to be little confidence that “Juror #2” can at least collect its costs through ticket sales. Plus, Insiders from Variety noted that the decision to give the movie a theatrical run was primarily a gesture of appreciation for Eastwood’s golden years when he was one of the studio’s most profitable directors.
Considering all factors, it seems that viewers in the countries where “Juror #2” will be released may not necessarily find it at their nearest theater, and most international fans will likely have to wait for its streaming debut on Max. Such release is expected sooner rather than later, with a possibility of coinciding with the film’s theatrical premiere.