Warner Bros. raised some eyebrows for its unusual handling of the release of Clint Eastwood’s latest movie, JUROR #2. While this is seen as most likely the last feature film from the famous director, it opened at only 28 theatres, despite receiving very positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
Warner Bros. also confirmed that they were not planning to report domestic grosses and would pull it off-screen after only one week in theatres. Moreover, WB does not seem to be positioning the film for awards consideration, leaving industry observers perplexed over the studio’s release strategy.
Zaslav’s approach with JUROR #2 is most likely an effort to minimize costs related to its release, while the company is saddled with $40 billion in outstanding debt. After a long and storied career, Eastwood’s recent track record with his new features has been somewhat less-than-profitable, with RICHARD JEWEL, CRY MACHO and THE 15:17 TO PARIS all struggling to sell tickets.
Specifically, Zaslav was quoted as questioning the financial reasoning for making CRY MACHO, which opened in theatres in 2021. When company execs explained to Zaslav the longstanding relationship Eastwood had with the studio, Zaslav responded by saying “It’s not show friends — it’s show business.”
The premature burying of JUROR #2 is just the latest example of Zaslav’s sometimes controversial handling of the studio’s film properties. Last year Zaslav cancelled BATGIRL and COYOTE VS ACME to write off their production costs as a financial loss and eliminate all future expenses required to release them.
At the time, many in Hollywood were dismayed that the company would take these steps after crews had spent years working on the projects. To put it mildly, these examples have severely damaged the studio’s reputation for being one of Hollywood’s most “talent-friendly” homes for new projects.
