“Devastating” for Biz – Deadline

Sony, which was last seen at CinemaCon in 2018, brought the confab back to post (ish) -pandemic life today. Its Chairman of the Motion Picture Group, Josh Greenstein, took center stage and reiterated the Culver City Subdivision’s “commitment to protecting and preserving the cinema showcase”. This drew a big roar from the crowd at Caesar’s Palace Colosseum.

Despite reserving three hours on the conference program, Sony kept it short, but came up with some impassioned speeches on the big screen and some big surprises. Specifically, the first trailer for their Disney MCU trio Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was reportedly leaked over the weekend on social media and the first glimpse of their November 11 sequel Ghostbusters: the afterlife . The latter occupied most of the studio’s presentation time tonight, with director Jason Reitman and producer (and original director of 1984 and 1989) Ivan Reitman appearing.

Greenstein continued, “Starting films simultaneously in theaters and at home is devastating to our collective endeavor.” He then rolled a fast reel containing previously unseen footage of Brad Pitt High-speed train (the bespectacled Oscar winner in a knife fight with Bad Bunny in said bullet train), The Black Label’s Korean War photo Jonathan Majors Devotion, Morbius with Jared Leto and the feature-length adaptation produced by Reese Witherspoon of the novel by Delia Owens Where the crayfish sing.

“Our films will first be seen exclusively in our theaters,” said Greenstein. “Movie theaters and the indoor cinema experience will triumph.

“Over the past 19 months there has been a lot of unease,” continued Greenstein, “Without dismissing the very real challenges, at Sony we take a long-term view of the film industry.”

Then Sony Boss Tom Rothman made a surprise appearance. He was supposed to be on vacation in Cape Cod, but chose to take a break in Las Vegas. The hurricane there also caused him to change his travel plans and head west.

“I saw free guy on Cape Cod, ”Rothman told the crowd which included an army of directors from Regal Cinemas.

“This movie has done great business because, number one, it’s great and number two, you can’t watch it on TV at home! Come on, fucking figure. Do you remember Bill Clinton and it’s “the stupid economy?” ” This is the stupid window! Yeah, we’re not that bright in Hollywood, but we’re going to find out. “

Rothman told the crowd that “Covid, too, will pass” and that Sony “values ​​theatrically above all media”; that the studio is a home for filmmakers looking to make an impact on the cultural conversation with rates on the big screen.