SCOOP: Does Disney like Saturdays?

Is the studio thinking of releasing BROTHER BEAR the day after Halloween?

By Patrick Sauriol     July 14, 2003
Source: Name withheld

The next animated feature for Walt Disney is BROTHER BEAR, starring the voices of Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Clarke Duncan and Rick Moranis. According to the film's official website and various theater schedules, the film is slated for release on Friday, November 7, 2003. But according to our industry source, Disney is thinking of changing their strategy and doing something unprecedented: releasing a major studio film on a Saturday.

According to our source, the move is to give the animated film a chance to breathe and establish its own foothold. November 7 also sees the release of New Line's holiday comedy ELF starring Will Ferrell as well as Universal's LOVE ACTUALLY. And two days before that on November 5, Warner Bros. will release THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, the final chapter in the MATRIX trilogy. It's going to be a crowded weekend, so why doesn't Disney bump BROTHER BEAR back a week instead?

In a word, the problem is "Halloween". Seven days prior to November 7 is October 31, and the last thing kids want to do on Halloween night is spend it inside a theater (leaving those of us who are older and less likely to trick and treat to go see the re-release of ALIEN which happens on 10/31).

This is why a Saturday, November 1 roll out for BROTHER BEAR is starting to make sense to Disney brass. By opening their picture the night after Halloween, Disney might stand to gain additional exposure from the media alerted to the unusual release day. As well, it doesn't hurt that kids will be more inclined to watch a movie after they've gorged themselves on candy...and parents can rest for a couple of hours after running around after their tots the night before.

If Disney does decide to take the plunge and move BROTHER BEAR up six days from its November 7 plans, remember that you heard it here first.

[If a source tells us a scoop while they're in the forest, does anyone hear it?]


Got a scoop? Know something that you need to tell us about? Send it to us!