Director Ric Roman Waugh’s new disaster survival epic, Greenland, is instead resolving toward home release status, according to a company press release issued on Thursday by ErosSTX Global Corporation.
The Gerard Butler action adventure will debut on HBO, and then stream on HBO Max in the U.S. in early 2021, following a domestic release on Premium Video On-Demand (PVOD) beginning October 13. The film had been previously set to release in the summer before pushing to last month last month, only to pull its planned theatrical release as the pandemic crisis continued to affect theatrical exhibitors’ ability to open.
The film centers on John Garrity (Gerard Butler), who along with his estranged wife and son, make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary in a race against a planet-killing comet. Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet’s fragments, the family experiences the best and worst in humanity, and as the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.
Also starring are Morena Baccarin, David Denman, Hope Davis, Roger Dale Floyd, Andrew Bachelor and Merrin Dungey, with Holt McCallany, and Scott Glenn. Waugh directed from a script by Chris Sparling. Pic is produced by Thunder Road and Butler’s G-Base.
The film reportedly made earnings overseas, opening #1 in 22 markets through STX’s network of international distribution partners, in territories where theatrical restrictions were lifted. The film, which marks the latest Butler/Waugh reunion since working together on hit film, Angel Has Fallen, has already grossed over $45 million in revenue for STX, on a $35 million production budget, despite unique market conditions, and as such, will continue to roll-out theatrically in many international markets that apply.
Amazon Prime will also release the film in Canada, the UK and Australia.
“We conceived Greenland as a theatrical experience and audiences have responded strongly in every market where moviegoing is robust.” said Adam Fogelson, Chairman of STXfilms Motion Picture Group. “In some markets, however, we need a different strategy to get the movie out in a timely and economically advantageous fashion. We’re excited that HBO customers will have the chance to enjoy Greenland next year following a PVOD run in America during the fourth quarter of this year. And we’re pleased to partner again with Amazon in UK, Canada and Australia. We are actively producing and acquiring an exciting slate of content for theaters going forward. They are, and will continue to be, our critical partners.”