EPiC - new film - thoughts from the premiere

[John]

So Neon and Universal Pictures will distribute EPiC next year.
No idea if it matters who get the rights….and also no idea if that makes
any difference regarding a Bluray release.

What is telling is that it has got two distributors.

To me it suggests that the producers have waited for and gone with the widest distribution possible across multiple territories. Instead of going with one single distributor who may prioritize a hanfdul of territories.

And that ties to what Luhrmann has maintained from the beginning - that EPiC will be released " across the world", " in big cities and small towns ".

So, we are mostly looking at a truly wide release - which is not typical for this type of film.

The home video as well as streaming rights are independent of theatrical. So again, chances of there being an internationally strong streaming partner is high.

Movie companies often use more than one distributor as it helps keep the financial risk down. The 2022 movie was distributed by Warners for much of the world and Universal in some other territories. Titanic ended up getting two distributors because 20th Century Fox did not want to commit to a big spend, as the budget of the movie had already gone over, so Paramount took the home distribution and Fox took the rest of the world. Judging by Ernst’s comments, the budget and spend was extremely tight for EPiC so it made sense to look for a third party distributor or even two.

The original TTWII had global screenings but limited outings within countries. As an example, and from memory, there were only three cinemas around central London that took it. It did not appear in any of the London suburbs. Normally, we would only have to travel a few miles to our nearest cinema but the closest to us was 14 miles away. The same thing happened with On Tour too.

Of course it is slightly different these days - there are not so many cinemas but most of them are multiplex cinemas so anything regarded as having a niche market can end up going into the smaller screen sittings and then being moved depending on popularity, or vice versa.

I saw both the original TTWII and On Tour at my local cinema outside of London, at the time of release. I don't remember there being limited outings.

What cinema did you see it in John?

Over 50 years ago we had quite a few cinemas here in town. I can't remember which one it was, or even if it was the same cinema for both.

Well London covers quite a few town/suburbs etc, so what town was it then or what part of London. I might be able to pinpoint the cinema for you.

I'm not in London and we're not counted as being a part of London. I am in Berkshire.

Okay - so that could be Reading, Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor to name just a few. Let me know the town you normally went to and I’ll see what cinemas are listed in my database.

Don't worry, even if you told me which cinema it was, I wouldn't remember.

[FanFrom'61]

So Neon and Universal Pictures will distribute EPiC next year.
No idea if it matters who get the rights….and also no idea if that makes
any difference regarding a Bluray release.

What is telling is that it has got two distributors.

To me it suggests that the producers have waited for and gone with the widest distribution possible across multiple territories. Instead of going with one single distributor who may prioritize a hanfdul of territories.

And that ties to what Luhrmann has maintained from the beginning - that EPiC will be released " across the world", " in big cities and small towns ".

So, we are mostly looking at a truly wide release - which is not typical for this type of film.

The home video as well as streaming rights are independent of theatrical. So again, chances of there being an internationally strong streaming partner is high.

Movie companies often use more than one distributor as it helps keep the financial risk down. The 2022 movie was distributed by Warners for much of the world and Universal in some other territories. Titanic ended up getting two distributors because 20th Century Fox did not want to commit to a big spend, as the budget of the movie had already gone over, so Paramount took the home distribution and Fox took the rest of the world. Judging by Ernst’s comments, the budget and spend was extremely tight for EPiC so it made sense to look for a third party distributor or even two.

The original TTWII had global screenings but limited outings within countries. As an example, and from memory, there were only three cinemas around central London that took it. It did not appear in any of the London suburbs. Normally, we would only have to travel a few miles to our nearest cinema but the closest to us was 14 miles away. The same thing happened with On Tour too.

Of course it is slightly different these days - there are not so many cinemas but most of them are multiplex cinemas so anything regarded as having a niche market can end up going into the smaller screen sittings and then being moved depending on popularity, or vice versa.

I saw both the original TTWII and On Tour at my local cinema outside of London, at the time of release. I don't remember there being limited outings.

What cinema did you see it in John?

Over 50 years ago we had quite a few cinemas here in town. I can't remember which one it was, or even if it was the same cinema for both.

Well London covers quite a few town/suburbs etc, so what town was it then or what part of London. I might be able to pinpoint the cinema for you.

I'm not in London and we're not counted as being a part of London. I am in Berkshire.

Okay - so that could be Reading, Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor to name just a few. Let me know the town you normally went to and I’ll see what cinemas are listed in my database.

Don't worry, even if you told me which cinema it was, I wouldn't remember.

Okay, but I cannot believe you don’t know where you saw TTWII. I can remember where and what cinema I saw every Elvis movie from Follow That Dream (my first) all the way through to Elvis in Tour, except two which were Girls Girls Girls and It Happened At The World’s Fair as I never saw them when they were released. I can e en remember seeing some of the re-releases or Sunday one day specials.

I can even remember the day/date I saw Follow That Dream as if it was yesterday - a damp Monday afternoon on the 13th August 1962. And on Saturday afternoon 25th August 1962, I bought the EP although at such a young age, I thought i was buying the songs on an LP.

[John]

So Neon and Universal Pictures will distribute EPiC next year.
No idea if it matters who get the rights….and also no idea if that makes
any difference regarding a Bluray release.

What is telling is that it has got two distributors.

To me it suggests that the producers have waited for and gone with the widest distribution possible across multiple territories. Instead of going with one single distributor who may prioritize a hanfdul of territories.

And that ties to what Luhrmann has maintained from the beginning - that EPiC will be released " across the world", " in big cities and small towns ".

So, we are mostly looking at a truly wide release - which is not typical for this type of film.

The home video as well as streaming rights are independent of theatrical. So again, chances of there being an internationally strong streaming partner is high.

Movie companies often use more than one distributor as it helps keep the financial risk down. The 2022 movie was distributed by Warners for much of the world and Universal in some other territories. Titanic ended up getting two distributors because 20th Century Fox did not want to commit to a big spend, as the budget of the movie had already gone over, so Paramount took the home distribution and Fox took the rest of the world. Judging by Ernst’s comments, the budget and spend was extremely tight for EPiC so it made sense to look for a third party distributor or even two.

The original TTWII had global screenings but limited outings within countries. As an example, and from memory, there were only three cinemas around central London that took it. It did not appear in any of the London suburbs. Normally, we would only have to travel a few miles to our nearest cinema but the closest to us was 14 miles away. The same thing happened with On Tour too.

Of course it is slightly different these days - there are not so many cinemas but most of them are multiplex cinemas so anything regarded as having a niche market can end up going into the smaller screen sittings and then being moved depending on popularity, or vice versa.

I saw both the original TTWII and On Tour at my local cinema outside of London, at the time of release. I don't remember there being limited outings.

What cinema did you see it in John?

Over 50 years ago we had quite a few cinemas here in town. I can't remember which one it was, or even if it was the same cinema for both.

Well London covers quite a few town/suburbs etc, so what town was it then or what part of London. I might be able to pinpoint the cinema for you.

I'm not in London and we're not counted as being a part of London. I am in Berkshire.

Okay - so that could be Reading, Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor to name just a few. Let me know the town you normally went to and I’ll see what cinemas are listed in my database.

Don't worry, even if you told me which cinema it was, I wouldn't remember.

Okay, but I cannot believe you don’t know where you saw TTWII. I can remember where and what cinema I saw every Elvis movie from Follow That Dream (my first) all the way through to Elvis in Tour, except two which were Girls Girls Girls and It Happened At The World’s Fair as I never saw them when they were released. I can e en remember seeing some of the re-releases or Sunday one day specials.

I can even remember the day/date I saw Follow That Dream as if it was yesterday - a damp Monday afternoon on the 13th August 1962. And on Saturday afternoon 25th August 1962, I bought the EP although at such a young age, I thought i was buying the songs on an LP.

Wow! Fortunately my world does not revolve around Elvis.

[NinaFromCanadaEh]

Wow! Fortunately my world does not revolve around Elvis.



is that allowed?

(lols)

[John]

Wow! Fortunately my world does not revolve around Elvis.



is that allowed?

(lols)

Haha. Sure, when you've got a normal life.

[NinaFromCanadaEh]

ah.well why be normal when you can be an Elvis fan

[John]

ah.well why be normal when you can be an Elvis fan

I can be an Elvis fan, and am, but still be normal, if there is such a thing.

What is an Elvis fan? There are so many facets to such a person.

[NinaFromCanadaEh]

of course you can


Being an Elvis fan is to not need to have to explain, eh,

As george klien said if you are one, no explanation is needed and if not, none is possible


it is okay to have degrees of Elvis fandom, not everyone has an Elvis room in their house

I have enough to do that but never did

it is like enjoying star trek vs being a trekker to being a trekkie

[John]

of course you can


Being an Elvis fan is to not need to have to explain, eh,

As george klien said if you are one, no explanation is needed and if not, none is possible


it is okay to have degrees of Elvis fandom, not everyone has an Elvis room in their house

I have enough to do that but never did

it is like enjoying star trek vs being a trekker to being a trekkie

I've seen photos of people who have Elvis rooms, full of cushions, memorabilia, bedspreads, posters, photos, but not a record to be seen.

I've spoken to people who told me they were Elvis fans, and when you ask about their record collection, they say something like, "I've got that greatest hits LP".

There are those that watch the films on TV, but don't have a clue about his career or his live performances, or pretty much anything else.

There are those that say they have all his records. "So, have you got all the FTDs?" "No, what's that?"

Yup, there are indeed degrees of fandom.

[The fool]

"The Imax-finished film releases worldwide through Universal Pictures and Neon in late February."

Source:
https://variety.com/2025/film/markets-f ... 236567382/

[LSP-4445]

"The Imax-finished film releases worldwide through Universal Pictures and Neon in late February."

Source:
https://variety.com/2025/film/markets-f ... 236567382/

Disappointed.....
I was hoping for an earlier release,like early January.

[FanFrom'61]

"The Imax-finished film releases worldwide through Universal Pictures and Neon in late February."

Source:
https://variety.com/2025/film/markets-f ... 236567382/

Disappointed.....
I was hoping for an earlier release,like early January.

As Ernst pointed out, January is not a good month to encourage people into cinemas. They need to get maximum bums on seats for this to be successful. We’ve waited a couple of decades for something new, so I’m sure we can wait a month or so longer beyond January. .

[Sweet-Angeline]

trust me it`s worth the wait

[LSP-4445]

trust me it`s worth the wait

I know… it’s just that I have no patience

[Edwin66]

Indeed. I saw EPiC and it's really fantastic.
Be sure to book your tickets!
I'm looking forward to seeing it again, this time in Imax!

[Sweet-Angeline]

...and I am sure we will see a soundtrack album released as well (CD & Album??) probably around the same time. I hope they stick with the film poster for the album as well as it looks pretty cool