Civil War Releasing Earlier, Controversy Growing For Sci-Fi Thriller?
A24 has decided to shift the release date of its highly anticipated action film, Civil War. Originally slated for April 26, the movie will now hit theaters on April 12, making use of the available space on the calendar for a wide release and IMAX availability.
It’s a strategic move for the studio, but it’s also triggering controversy on the internet as some believe this movie is a push from the U.S. Government to get the public ready for an actual civil war.
Moving To Avoid Conflict?
On paper, moving the Kirsten Dunst action drama up by a week is a good move because not only does it get the movie out sooner, but it also avoids conflict with Zendaya’s tennis dramedy, Challenger, which was previously set to release on the same weekend.
This move aims to enhance the cinematic experience for viewers, promising a visually stunning presentation of the near-future dystopian America portrayed in Civil War.
Society On The Brink Of Fracture
The Alex Garland film explores a narrative set in a society on the brink of fracture. It follows a group of journalists embarking on a perilous journey across the United States amid an intensifying civil war that has consumed the entire nation.
Their struggle for survival unfolds against the backdrop of a society transformed into a dystopian dictatorship, where political violence by partisan extremist militias has become a grim and regular occurrence.
Civil War stars Dunst in the lead role as a currently unnamed reporter. The ensemble cast includes acclaimed actors such as Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jesse Plemons, and Nick Offerman as the President of the United States.
Another A24 Hit?
A24, known for its commitment to delivering unique and thought-provoking cinema, produced Civil War alongside Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich of DNA, and Gregory Goodman.
Alex Garland, the visionary filmmaker behind Ex Machina, for which he received an Original Screenplay Oscar nomination and an Academy Award for Visual Effects, also wrote and directed Annihilation and Men.
In addition to avoiding conflict with Zendaya’s new film from Amazon MGM Studios, moving Civil War to the April 12 opening day avoids competition with Lionsgate’s Unsung Hero, another highly anticipated drama.
But is the reason A24 moved Civil War’s release date really because it makes good business sense? Probably. But that’s not what a handful of people on the internet think.
Already Controversy?
Based on the trailer alone, Civil War has already sparked controversy. A right-wing conspiracy theory suggests the film was made for “predictive programming.”
In other words, they believe that the film was made to prepare the public for an actual civil war. The idea is rooted in the idea that Hollywood elites use media to shape public perception.
The concept didn’t begin with Civil War. The theory goes back decades with a popular example citing how The Simpsons seems to be so great at predicting real-world events.
Easy Choices Now
While, in all likelihood, Civil War is just another action flick from Hollywood, only time will tell if it ends up predicting the future. Either way, for fans who couldn’t pick whether to see A24’s new film or Zendaya’s new movie on the weekend of April 26, now you don’t have to choose.
Source: Deadline
