Netflix Inc said on Tuesday the movie, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino and already generating Oscar buzz, will get a limited 26-day release in independent U.S. movie theaters starting in November before arriving on the streaming platform.
Netflix said it planned to keep the movie in theaters for an unspecified period beyond the streaming launch, however.
The announcement follows an impasse in negotiations for a more traditional movie rollout between Netflix and major theater chains like AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc and Cineplex Inc, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Movie theater chains prefer an exclusive 90-day theatrical window before a film can appear elsewhere; Netflix wants to offer its films to subscribers sooner.
While the limited release starting Nov. 1 in independent movie theaters will not affect awards eligibility for “The Irishman,” the decision reflects the tension between filmmakers, who like their work shown on big screens, and streaming services that have upended Hollywood’s traditional business models.
Scorsese, one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
But De Niro, who is also a producer, told “The Irishman” would “have as much theatrical as possible.” —Reuters
