6 hours 29 mins ago

© Sky News 2010

Two of Britain's biggest cinema chains are boycotting Johnny Depp's new film Alice In Wonderland after a dispute with Disney.

Odeon and Vue cinemas will not show the 3D blockbuster directed by Tim Burton and starring Depp as The Mad Hatter.

The cinema chains are angry with Disney's plans to bring the film out on DVD within 12 weeks of it hitting cinemas instead of the normal 17 weeks.

The studio is trying to halt the decline in DVD sales which in the past has been the studio's biggest earner.

A spokesperson for Odeon told Sky News the reduction in this window will have a "negative impact on cinema attendance" and will "threaten the continued existence of many cinemas."

The company is also frustrated after installing 3D projection systems over the past 12 months in their cinemas.

It said bringing forward the DVD release "undermines the investment made and will inevitably set a new benchmark".

The boycott means around 40% of British cinemas will not be showing the 3D film which was partly shot in the UK and was expected to do well here.

The 3D extravaganza, based on Lewis Carroll's classic novel, also features a large British cast including Helena Bonham Carter, Matt Lucas, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry and Timothy Spall to name a few.

Ironically the film is to get its Royal world premiere at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square on Thursday.

Odeon told Sky News it was honouring the premiere despite Disney's "late, dramatic and unconsulted change in window".

A spokesperson said it was doing so "out of respect for the charity that will benefit, the British Royal Family who will be attending and all the film talent involved in the making of the film."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100222/ten-uk-cinemas-boycott-new-johnny-depp-f-8a3eada.html

Odeon ends Alice in Wonderland boycott
Adam Dawtrey guardian.co.uk
Thursday 25 February 2010


The UK's biggest cinema chain has reached an agreement with Disney to show Tim Burton's 3D fantasia on its screens, just hours before the film's world premiere in London


Odeon has struck a deal with Disney to screen Alice in Wonderland in its cinemas across the UK and Ireland.



The agreement was announced just hours before Tim Burton's 3D movie was due to have its world premiere at Odeon's Leicester Square flagship, in the presence of Prince Charles.

"I always felt that we'd get a deal on the morning of the royal premiere," said one executive close to the negotiations.





The UK's three big cinema chains – Odeon, Vue and Cineworld – initially threatened to boycott Alice in Wonderland in protest against Disney's plan to shorten the theatrical run by bringing forward the DVD release date.

Disney wants to release Alice in Wonderland on DVD just three months after the cinema opening on 5 March, instead of waiting the customary four months. Disney believes such flexibility is necessary to combat piracy, but exhibitors fear it will undermine their box-office takings.





Cineworld was the first to break ranks when it struck a deal last week to screen Alice in Wonderland, with a 13-week window until the DVD release. Vue followed suit on Tuesday, but Odeon, the UK's largest chain, continued to insist publicly that it would not book the film.

However, negotiations were still taking place behind the scenes, resulting in today's announcement of a compromise.


"An enduring agreement has been reached encompassing all the different aspects of both companies' commercial relationship," said Odeon in a statement.

"As a result of this agreement, Odeon is pleased to confirm that it will be able to continue with its plans for significant investment in new cinemas, in digital technology, in 3D capability and the other exciting developments designed for the increased enjoyment of all its customers."





Under the deal with Cineworld, Disney reportedly agreed to break the four-month theatrical window for only three films (including Alice) over the next two years.

Odeon is understood to have secured a longer and more substantial guarantee from Disney to protect the theatrical window, as well as a fresh agreement on commercial terms.




Disney is also trying to impose the shorter window for Alice in Wonderland in the US, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the US, two of the three biggest cinema chains, Regal and Cinemark, have agreed to screen the film, but the third, AMC, is still holding out. Dutch and Belgian exhibitors are also still insisting that they will not book Alice.


Tonight, there will be 26 regional premieres of the film around the UK, where audiences will also see live coverage of the Leicester Square event.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/feb/25/odeon-alice-in-wonderland-boycott