The creator of "Terminator" and "Avatar" is worried about the future of cinema.
Director James Cameron has spoken out against Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. He believes that the deal will undermine the film industry if the streaming giant alters the release schedules or the volume of theatrical distribution. The director expressed his concerns in a letter addressed to Republican Senator Mike Lee, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
"Netflix's business model is directly opposed to the business of producing and showing films in theaters, which employs hundreds of thousands of Americans. Thus, it directly contradicts the business model of Warner Brothers' film division, one of the few remaining major studios," Cameron stated.
Warner Bros releases about 15 films in theaters each year. The creator of "Terminator" and "Avatar" is worried that Netflix will reduce this number. In that case, theaters will lose audiences, which will harm the entire industry. Studios will not approve large projects due to the shrinking market. A decrease in the number of blockbusters will, in turn, lead to the closure of theaters, the bankruptcy of visual effects studios, and job losses.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos previously promised to maintain a 45-day theatrical release for films. However, James Cameron doubts that the company will fulfill this commitment. The director believes that streaming will likely change course in a few years.
"What are the terms of this deal? What regulatory body will hold them accountable if they gradually abandon their so-called commitment to theatrical film releases? Once they become owners of a major studio, it will become irreversible," Cameron said.
The director explained that promises of a 45-day theatrical release mean nothing without specifying the number of theaters in which the films will be shown. Cameron believes that Netflix might fulfill the statement about a 45-day release but only release films in a small, limited number of theaters. The director claims that the company has done this before, releasing films "symbolically" in a small number of theaters to qualify for the Academy Award.
Earlier, director James Cameron (71) stated that he moved from the U.S. to New Zealand in 2020 for his mental health. He mentioned that the desire to move first arose in him in 1994.
The director's wife was also in favor of the move, but it had to be postponed due to the birth of their children. In 2011, the couple purchased a farm in New Zealand and began living between two countries. In 2020, travel arrangements fell through due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The family decided to stay in New Zealand. The director described New Zealanders as more "level-headed."
