When Odeon announced earlier this week that it was going to boycott the release of Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland because it was angry that Disney was going to bring the movie out on DVD only 12 weeks after it arrived in cinemas (rather than the average gap of 17 weeks), many pointed out that it was rather ironic that tonight’s royal premiere was taking place at the Odeon Leicester Square.
However it seems there won’t be any red faces this evening now, as Odeon has announced that they’re reversing their decision after reaching an agreemeent with Disney (talks over the deal apparently lasted until late last night). Tim Burton’s 3D film will now be shown on the screens on the UK’s largest cinema chain after all, starting on March 5th.
The BBC reports that Odeon has released a statement saying, “The Odeon and UCI Cinema Group is pleased to announce that, following detailed negotiations with the Walt Disney Company Ltd, an enduring agreement has been reached encompassing all the different aspects of both companies’ commercial relationship. 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.”
Neither side revealed exactly what the terms of the agreement are, although Disney has confirmed they still plan to release Alice on DVD in only three months time. The deal between Odeon and Disney may well be like similar ones studios have reached with cinema chains in the US, where they’re allowed to shorten the theatrical window for one or two movies a year, as long as they guarantee at least four months between the cinema and DVD release for the rest of their films. Some cinema chains are also pushing for a larger percentage of a movie’s box office take in the first few weeks after relase (which is normally when nearly all the money goes to the studio, with cinemas getting a larger percentage of the take as the weeks go by), to offset the shortening theatrical window.