Good news for all you martial arts movie fanatics: the sequel to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is coming to a screen near you. Likely even the one you're watching this video on.
According to a new report from Variety, Netflix's first original movie, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend," will be a joint effort with The Weinstein Company set to debut on Netflix and in IMAX theaters in August 2015. (Video via Netflix)
You heard right — the film will be released in theaters and on Netflix on the same day.
Deadline reports the film will star Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen, and fans of the first film will be happy to hear "there is plenty of high-wire sword fighting along with the themes of lost love, young love and redemption."
A writer for The Verge points out two important details about the film's release:
- 1. "Theatrical distribution for this film will be limited to only IMAX screens, at least initially." So if you can't catch it on IMAX, you can watch it on Netflix.
- 2. Netflix isn't available in China, so IMAX will probably see a successful opening in the country as fans scramble to watch the sequel.
Those differences in distribution should help insulate ticket sales from being cannibalized by Netflix availability.
And The Financial Timesquotes IMAX's chief executive who addresses that potential concern over Netflix availability. “It's like a big sporting event. People still go to the stadium even though they can watch it at home at the same time.”
And although headlines would have you believe this signals the end of Hollywood, Netflix itself doesn't really seem to see it that way.
Instead, the company wants to show Hollywood everything's going to be just fine. The Times quotes Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos who said, “What I am hoping is that it will be a proof point that the sky doesn’t fall. These are two different experiences, like going to a football game and watching a football game on TV.”
Looks like IMAX and Netflix are on the same page, folks.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
