Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi says the company hopes to reopen its theaters by July and even begin screening new movies like Christopher Nolan's theaters are unable to reopen in 2020 at all.
For now, entertainment vendors are hopeful it won't come to that and are looking into reopening their doors around the middle to the end of June (screening older movie marathons and franchises before they return to showing new films.
Speaking on a morning call to Wall Street analysts (via THR), Zoradi predicted Cinemark theaters will reopen on July 1 after using June to bring their employees back into the fold and, towards the end of the month, even screen classic movies to encourage people to head back to the multiplex. Zoardi was keen to emphasize his company is "not completely certain" about its plans, but their hope is to return to something resembling normalcy by the time Tenet's July 17 release date rolls around.
It's worth reiterating this timetable is tentative (to say the least). In a ratings note issued around the same time as Zoardi's comments, Fitch Ratings director Patrice Cucinello said not move to a later spot, as pretty much everyone has been anticipating it would over the last two weeks.
Despite all this, some (justifiably) feel it's overly optimistic to think theaters will Mulan to open in the latter half of that month. Obviously, as much as film buffs are eager to head back to their local multiplex (and theaters want/need to start making money again), health and safety take priority and shouldn't be overlooked for the sake of hitting a deadline. In the meantime, everyone ought to continue to do their part to help with the situation by practicing social distancing and wait to see how things unfold from here.
Source: THR
