Disney (and others) at the Box Office - Current State of Affairs

Minnesota disney fan

Well-Known Member
That’s the odd thing with Hulu also, I’ve been on a huge crime/mystery kick lately and have been bingeing shows like White Collar, High Potential, and currently Will Trent… nothing that would indicate I’m a huge kids movie fan. (I am, just not sure how the algorithm figured it out.)
If you like Will Trent, you might try the series of books on Will Trent. They are excellent and entertaining.
Also, they are Not like the show. It follows some of the story lines, but as usual the TV adaptation wanders from the actual book content. I can't seem to get into the TV version, but my husband likes it as he's never read the series.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
They are doing this to ensure the safety of the people involved with the movie and who will be attending the premiere, ie to avoid any public backlash which could ruin the premiere.

What "safety" issues would be involved? Movie premieres, especially in Hollywood, are already tightly controlled with blocked streets, notable police presence, invite-only list for the event, security screening for attendees and red carpet, etc.

For those not from SoCal, here's the typical premiere setup for Disney's El Capitan theater on Hollywood Blvd. The street gets shut down, police patrol on foot and incognito, and to enter the event envelope (i.e. the El Capitan theater and its nearby sidewalks/street) you need an invite and to go through a screening process.

los-angeles-ca-hollywood-blvd-closed-for-the-premiere-of-touchstone-pictures-and-miramax-films.jpg
 
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Disney Irish

Premium Member
What "safety" issues would be involved? Movie premieres, especially in Hollywood, are already tightly controlled with blocked streets, notable police presence, invite-only list for the event, security screening for attendees and red carpet, etc.

For those not from SoCal, here's the typical premiere setup for Disney's El Capitan theater on Hollywood Blvd. The street gets shut down, police patrol on foot and incognito, and to enter the event envelope (i.e. the El Capitan theater and its nearby sidewalks/street) you need an invite and to go through a screening process.

los-angeles-ca-hollywood-blvd-closed-for-the-premiere-of-touchstone-pictures-and-miramax-films.jpg
And those premiere events are usually attended by the public in viewing areas for the red carpet (across the street as I recall) who can still get close enough to do something.

Plus its also to limit the exposure to press as to minimize any questions that Disney doesn't want asked.
 

Farerb

Well-Known Member
I think everyone involved with this film just wants it to be over already. Remaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was always going to be a mistake, it's as if Walt Disney himself cursed this movie from the beyond.

In the end I think it's going to be just as bad as previous remakes.
 

Chi84

Premium Member
I think everyone involved with this film just wants it to be over already. Remaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was always going to be a mistake, it's as if Walt Disney himself cursed this movie from the beyond.

In the end I think it's going to be just as bad as previous remakes.
I agree. The subject matter was going to lead to problems no matter what they did.
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
And those premiere events are usually attended by the public in viewing areas for the red carpet (across the street as I recall) who can still get close enough to do something.

Plus it’s also to limit the exposure to press as to minimize any questions that Disney doesn't want asked.
I think it’s both these things, Cap was a “controlled” premier also and that didn’t prevent a protest. With two stars on opposite sides of a highly controversial issue allowing the press to ask questions would open the floodgates to non movie related issues for clicks… if I ran Disney I wouldn’t put on an event that let the press within 100 feet of the stars either.

It’s unusual and controversial but infinitely less controversial than the stars making statements on an issue that could result in massive boycotts from both sides.
 

Disney Irish

Premium Member
I think it’s both these things, Cap was a “controlled” premier also and that didn’t prevent a protest. With two stars on opposite sides of a highly controversial issue allowing the press to ask questions would open the floodgates to non movie related issues for clicks… if I ran Disney I wouldn’t put on an event that let the press within 100 feet of the stars either.

It’s unusual and controversial but infinitely less controversial than the stars making statements on an issue that could result in massive boycotts from both sides.
Completely agree, which is why I don't know why some can't see it or want to acknowledge it. But hey it each their own I guess.
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
I agree. The subject matter was going to lead to problems no matter what they did.
I think there were relatively easy fixes to the controversial parts, make the ages closer, add a simple line or two to establish they were existing friends rather than strangers when they sing together in the forest, have him kiss her on the forehead rather than the lips (or some other non sexualized display of affection similar to how Frozen handled “an act of true love”), style the dwarfs as obviously mythical dwarfs (LoTR style dwarfs), etc.

I think it was possible to do this in a non-controversial way… the fact they’d have to change so much to do it should have still been a huge red flag though and made them question if it was a good candidate for a remake though.
 

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
What "safety" issues would be involved? Movie premieres, especially in Hollywood, are already tightly controlled with blocked streets, notable police presence, invite-only list for the event, security screening for attendees and red carpet, etc.

For those not from SoCal, here's the typical premiere setup for Disney's El Capitan theater on Hollywood Blvd. The street gets shut down, police patrol on foot and incognito, and to enter the event envelope (i.e. the El Capitan theater and its nearby sidewalks/street) you need an invite and to go through a screening process.

los-angeles-ca-hollywood-blvd-closed-for-the-premiere-of-touchstone-pictures-and-miramax-films.jpg
I’m not sure where this public safety concern is coming from all of a sudden. Zegler just finished a run on Broadway which has far less stringent protections for their productions than a major movie premiere.

What is her next project, incidentally?
 

Ghost93

Well-Known Member
I don't think there are any safety concerns for Zegler or Gadot as much as there is concern that the two lead actresses aren't the most PR savvy and Disney knows that reporters will likely try to stir the pot and get them to say something that will lead to a viral moment and ignite even more backlash against the film. Disney doesn't want Israel/Palestine, the depiction of dwarves, Zegler's political views or how the 1937 movie isn't progressive enough to become talking points in the final days of the promotion of the movie. I think it's already too late to do damage control, but I understand Disney not wanting to fan the flames of controversy even further.
 

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
I don't think there are any safety concerns for Zegler or Gadot as much as there is concern that the two lead actresses aren't the most PR savvy and Disney knows that reporters will likely try to stir the pot and get them to say something that will lead to a viral moment and ignite even more backlash against the film. Disney doesn't want Israel/Palestine, the depiction of dwarves, Zegler's political views or how the 1937 movie isn't progressive enough to become talking points in the final days of the promotion of the movie. I think it's already too late to do damage control, but I understand Disney not wanting to fan the flames of controversy even further.
100% agree but saying you’re doing it because you don’t trust your actors mouths makes for a terrible press release, doing it for “safety” provides cover.

I’m surprised they didn’t use the generic “out of an abundance of caution” response…
 

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
I’m not sure where this public safety concern is coming from all of a sudden. Zegler just finished a run on Broadway which has far less stringent protections for their productions than a major movie premiere.
It's more about Gal's controversy. Which involves taking a side in a lethal conflict. The anger and possible resort to violence is many magnitudes more of a danger for Gal than for the other actress's remarks whose perceived problem is that she sounds 'woke.'
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
I’m not sure where this public safety concern is coming from all of a sudden. Zegler just finished a run on Broadway which has far less stringent protections for their productions than a major movie premiere.

Me either. About 5 or 6 years ago pre-Covid, on a number of occasions, I tried to get to stuff on Hollywood Blvd. and was re-routed or denied access to the street because of a movie premiere at the El Capitan, with LAPD and private security screening all over the place.

Off the top of my head, I can remember a visit to Musso & Frank's with a few friends in the car where an El Cap movie premiere denied us street access to Hollywood Blvd. itself, and then denied us access to even the sidewalk when we decided to park south of Hollywood Blvd. and walk up a few blocks to the restaurant. A very handsome, um.... polite LA Policeman directed us to a back way down a rather seedy alley, which made for all sorts of R Rated jokes when we finally made it to the dinner table. :cool:

And around 2019 I tried to get to the Japan House exhibit at the Hollywood & Highland center, and was again denied sidewalk access to Hollywood Blvd. due to a premiere at the El Capitan. And getting into the parking garage was a nightmare.

And during big premieres at the El Cap or Grauman's Chinese or the Egyptian Theater or big events like the Oscars, the area within a 3 block radius of the El Capitan and Dolby Theater and Hollywood & Highland is locked down tighter than the White House on Inauguration Day. Street closures, heavy security both seen and unseen, and pre-screened audiences and invite-only attendees are the rule for even minor movies, and it's been that way for decades now.

I don't think there are any safety concerns for Zegler or Gadot as much as there is concern that the two lead actresses aren't the most PR savvy and Disney knows that reporters will likely try to stir the pot and get them to say something that will lead to a viral moment and ignite even more backlash against the film.

Ah ha! I think you just hit the nail on the head. That's probably it; a fear of the two starlets being... themselves.

It's more about Gal's controversy. Which involves taking a side in a lethal conflict.

Is that what we're calling war now? "A lethal conflict"? Seems easier to just call it what it is, which is a war.

The anger and possible resort to violence is many magnitudes more of a danger for Gal than for the other actress's remarks whose perceived problem is that she sounds 'woke.'

I would agree. Knowing the types of protests and the types of protesters who would potentially violently disagree with Ms. Gadot, my fear is that something would happen to her rather than anything happening to Miss Zegler.

If anything, I hope Miss Zegler takes a few moments to really speak her mind at the premiere! We need some laughs. 🤣

But again, knowing how tight police and security and overall screening is for movie premieres at the El Capitan and how there's an entire SoCal industry used to secure those events, I'm not truly concerned.

I imagine the biggest worry in Burbank right now is how they can keep Miss Zegler quiet for just two more weeks! 🤫
 

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