Johnny Depp’s Transcendence will get the highly lucrative day-and-date release in China, meaning that audiences there will see it on the same day it opens in the U.S. on May 18.
DMG, the Chinese studio that co-produced the film with Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. It’s a big deal for Warner Bros., as it ensures that the film will be released immediately in the second-largest film market in the world. This will also cut down on piracy, which would be a major concern if the film’s Chinese opening was delayed.
Depp is still a huge international star thanks to the success of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and Alice in Wonderland films. He was supposed to make the trip to China last year for The Lone Ranger, but when the film’s release date was changed, the trip was nixed. However, Depp will be making a two-day promotional trip for Transcendence, starting on March 31.
Day-and-date for China has proven a big boost for films there. As Deadline notes, Aaron Paul’s Need For Speed actually made more in China than in the U.S. during its opening weekend. Iron Man 3 also came out two days before the U.S. release last year and became the second-highest grossing film in China last year with $125 million.
Transcendence was directed by Wally Pfister and co-stars Rebecca Hall and Morgan Freeman.
image courtesy of NBC