Disney to distribute and release HAMILTON film with OBC in Oct. 2021- Page 2

[bdn223]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:16pm

I am just amazed that this will be a traditional wide release and not a Fathom Event premium ticket. This will truly be a new test for the filmed stage production business model. If this even comes close to grossing more than $30 million in sales, I see the model becoming significantly more common. Yes, Disney paid $50 Million for the rights, which I will find it difficult for them to recoup from a theatrical run. To do this Hamilton's theatrical run will have to gross a minimum of $100 Million domestic or $150 Million in international grosses just to break even, and that's before a likely additional $20 Million+ marketing campaign. I think the key thing in the agreement is that Disney will also be collecting the revenue from all ancillary markets. It is kind of crazy to think that Disney paid about same amount for the rights to distribute Hamiltion's filmed performance, as most film studio's spend on a modern movie musical.  

 

[Tag]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:21pm

Deadline is reporting Disney paid 75 MILLION, possibly the biggest acquisition deal ever.

[bdn223]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:23pm

Tag said: "Deadline is reporting Disney paid 75 MILLION, possibly the biggest acquisition deal ever."

Honestly I hope part of that money is securing the eventual film adaptation rights, as at that point the film has to make a minimum of $150 Million domestic and $225 Million worldwide just to break even, and thats before marketing. 

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:30pm

It will recoup and more with the distribution in blu-ray, etc.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:48pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "
I think this is beautifully generous.

Hamilton is not even in the top longest running shows yet even though it will be, and they are taking a risk of pulling ticket buyers away to distribute it as a movie.

The biggest shows that hit Broadway never do this unless they NEED a publicity lift after 10 years at least.

Lin Manuel clearly just wants to give this to people and I just think that’s awesome"

Lololol. Lin alone is making 30+ million dollars off of this. He’s not giving anything away. This will just reinvigorate the brand. And with Disney behind it, it’s a win-win.

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:55pm

While Hamilton is still grossing incredibly well, nobody's really talking about it anymore.  I think this will help bring back more buzz to the show.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:58pm

I'm curious as to why it is constantly being referred to as a movie. No previous filmings/tapings of stage shows are referred to as movies. Wide release or not, I wonder how many non-Broadway buffs will be expecting an actual movie and not a filmed stage show.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 1:59pm

I'm curious as to why it is constantly being referred to as a movie. No previous filmings/tapings of stage shows are referred to as movies. Wide release or not, I wonder how many non-Broadway buffs will be expecting an actual movie and not a filmed stage show.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:06pm

Fosse76 said: "I'm curious as to why it is constantly being referred to as a movie. No previous filmings/tapings of stage shows are referred to as movies. Wide release or not, I wonder how many non-Broadway buffs will be expecting an actual movie and not a filmed stage show."

The way I see it, "movie" is an open-ended term that people use interchangeably to mean something that just plays in a movie theater; whether it's an actual film or not. "Filmed stage production" just seems to be an artisan term in comparison and doesn't have the general public appeal of "movie". Weird to think about, how affecting one word can be in context.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:13pm

No other theatrically distributed filmed stage production has ever been mainstream enough to illicit its own headlines beyond niche websites and forums. And the word “movie” fits easier in a headline than “filmed stage show.”

Disney will give the movie a huge marketing push wherein it will be hard to hide the fact that this is a stage show. In fact that could become a part of its appeal, pay $15 to see the hottest ticket on Broadway in your own hometown. For a lot of people, that in and of itself is a dream.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:14pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "The way I see it, "movie" is an open-ended term that people use interchangeably to mean something that just plays in a movie theater; whether it's an actual film or not. "Filmed stage production" just seems to bean artisan term in comparison and doesn't have the general public appeal of "movie". Weird to think about, how affecting one word can be in context."

Maybe to an extent, but other filmed productions such as Newsies and Billy Elliot weren't referred to as movies. 

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:21pm

I already have anxiety about being able to get a ticket 😕

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:25pm

Hope they got the rights to make a film sequel too...:).   Then an animated version.   Then a live version of the animated version.   Then Hamilton on Ice.   Then Hamiltonland in Orlando.   Then The Skylar Sisters in Paris...Then Burr! ...The mind boggles...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:33pm

Gorlois said: "No other theatrically distributed filmed stage production has ever been mainstream enough to illicit its own headlines beyond niche websites and forums. And the word “movie” fits easier in a headline than “filmed stage show.”

Disney will give the movie a huge marketing push wherein it will be hard to hide the fact that this is a stage show. In fact that could become a part of its appeal, pay $15 to see the hottest ticket on Broadway in your own hometown. For a lot of people, that in and of itself is a dream."

I don't disagree, but the terms 'movie" and "film" have a very specific aesthetic that moviegoers expect. I understand Disney trying to sell it as a movie instead of a recorded performance, but articles by BWW and Playbill refer to it as a movie/film, when they should know better.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:47pm

This will be one live filmed stage musical that I will NOT be lining up to see.

Having seen enough already of what I shouldn't, A$5. at my local cinema is not even an enticement.

Sub-titles? Maybe.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 2:54pm

I agree with Fosse76 on this one. From an artistic standpoint, I think calling it a "movie" is a bit misleading, and not really in line with the terminology we usually use around filmed stage productions. However, most filmed stage productions don't get a theatrical wide-release, so from a business/marketing standpoint, I can see why they would use the word that most accurately describes the context in which it's being distributed.

I wonder if they will go all the way with this branding, and submit it for Oscar consideration. Has anything like that ever happened before? The closest thing I can think of are some of the old-school Shakespeare films that were adapted very closely from specific stage productions, and still, in many ways, feel like a filmed stage production. Olivier's "Othello" is the first that came to mind, having been nominated for several Oscars. But again, this example isn't actually equivalent to this current situation. It's just the closest precedent I can think of. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 3:47pm

I think its awesome its finally happening! But i am surprised we have to wait over a year.

[superiska123]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 4:37pm

I am surprised about both the fact that this is happening so soon, and also by the fact that it already got announced more than a year and a half in advance... I also can't imagine how this will affect ticket sales for the bway production. Is this announced so early so as to boost ticket sales by getting people to talk about Hamilton because of the announcement? Also, are ticket sales at Hamilton getting worse and is that why this is being released?

 

In any case, I'm glad professionally recorded theater is becoming more and more mainstream, and will definitely go watch this...

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:13pm

i don't think this will impact ticket sales to the various stage productions in a negative way at all ... if anything, it will most likely even stimulate sales.  The reality of the situation is there are a great number of people out there that simply can't afford broadway/touring ticket prices that would love to see this production but are financially not in a position to do so.  A normal wide theatrical release in theaters will give these people the opportunity to experience what, up until now, they've only heard about.  In some cases it will probably even get some of them excited enough to want to see it "live on stage" the next chance they get.  I'd say it's a WIN WIN situation all around.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:22pm

Based on the comments posted on social media, it’s apparent the masses are assuming this is a motion picture adaptation and many are hoping Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Hamilton in “the film.” The headlines are misleading as 95% isn’t bothering to read the articles with the full info on what this is.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:23pm

theaterlyfe19 said: "I already have anxiety about being able to get a ticket ?"

Can someone clarify if this is a Fathom Events sort of one-time thing or if it's getting an actual theatrical release?

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:29pm

VintageSnarker said: "theaterlyfe19 said: "I already have anxiety about being able to get a ticket ?"

Can someone clarify if this is a Fathom Events sort of one-time thing or if it's getting an actual theatrical release?"

This is a Disney theatrical release. Expect it to be big. They didn’t pay 75 million to release it for a two showing event. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:36pm

People.......this is a press release announcement. I'm sure they'll slap a tagline "FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY!" on it for distribution. And trailers will clarify it. Nobody's going to be confused by Fall 2021.

As for how wide the release is, there's no doubt that this will have hefty press/marketing behind it and a wide theatrical opening. You don't pay $75mil to show it for a week in theaters like Fathom Events (which has special deals with the major exhibitors). And then they can stream it on Disney+.

Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT (or Bieber's NEVER SAY NEVER, or some other wide-release Concert Film) is probably the best comparison. They all got wide releases and marketing pushes that aren't all that different from a feature film. https://www.the-numbers.com/market/genre/Concert-or-Performance

Updated On: 2/3/20 at 05:36 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:38pm

When this was being filmed wasn't there some scuttlebutt that one of the OBC had refused to sign a release so this couldn't be released? Tell me I'm not dreaming that this happened?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/20 at 5:42pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "While Hamilton is still grossing incredibly well, nobody's really talking about it anymore. I think this will help bring back more buzz to the show."

Buzz in theatre-specific circles only lasts so long. Theatre lovers out in the hinterlands and people who can't afford to see a Broadway show are still interested in seeing it. It obviously doesn't have the buzz it did in 2016, but the buzz would have diminished even more if they waited another 5 years. And it's smart to release it a year after HEIGHTS.