Universal Chief Langley Says Shorter Theatrical Releases Are the New Norm

Not every director is Christopher Nolan—the auteur behind blockbuster films including “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.” That means not every filmmaker should expect to receive a 100-day-plus theatrical release for their films, especially as the escalating streaming wars and the pandemic combine to dramatically change the film industry, says Donna Langley, chair of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.

Speaking at The Information’s Women in Tech, Media and Finance conference on Thursday, Langley confirmed that Nolan’s latest project, a $100 million feature about the creation of the atomic bomb, would be released exclusively in theaters for between 90 and 120 days. That’s several times longer than the 17- to 31-day exclusive theatrical release Universal is giving most of its films. Nolan, who previously made films with Warner Bros., had reportedly asked for that extra long release schedule in negotiations with studios. Winning over Nolan was a major coup for Langley, who confirmed that the extra release schedule would not be the norm for most films going forward.