Disney Confirms Wakanda Forever Release Date in France
Disney issued a statement earlier this week saying Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will release in theaters in France, despite a controversial French regulation.
Photo: Marvel
According to Deadline, an online entertainment news source, French Media Chronology states that a theatrical release may not be released to a streaming service until 17 months after it’s theatrical debut. The law is in place to “preserve the French language” as well as protect the video-on-demand industry in the country.
Disney held off on a release date as they opposed the rule, a stance they have expressed to the French CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) and Ministry of Culture.
Disney’s statement read, in part,
“…we believe the chronology is anti-consumer and puts all studios at increased risk for piracy, which is why the majority of the stakeholders agree that it needs to be completely revised. We will remain actively engaged in the upcoming meetings and we will work closely with the CNC, the Ministry of Culture and the various other stakeholders in order to try and find a quick and equitable solution for all parties. In the meantime, we will continue to make future release decisions on a film-by-film basis.”
Disney showed their displeasure with this timeline before, releasing Strange World directly to Disney+ last summer, bypassing the French theater market entirely.
Image: Disney
The new Black Panther agreement comes after French media authorities acknowledged that Disney’s stance has at least some merit, admitting the Chronology is out of date and setting a timeline for discussion of change.
This plan suited Disney well enough. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will debut in French theaters November 9, 2022.
Photo Credit: Marvel
Per the current agreement, theatrical releases are made available for purchase four months after their debut (something akin to premium purchases for Disney+ subscribers in the US). At the magical 17-month post-theater mark, movies release to Disney Plus for five months, at which time they then go to free French programming channels for a 14-month period. Then films move back to the standard Disney+ subscription.
Source: Marvel Studios
Featured Image: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
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