As many feared, footage from Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is already being leaked online. Even before 2020 began, Tenet was one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the year simply because it’s Nolan’s latest. However, now it is anticipated for an entirely different reason: It’s going to be the biggest film released after the coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down the movie industry. Tenet was originally scheduled for July, but the pandemic forced it to be delayed multiple times. Some began to wonder if Tenet could just be shifted to streaming altogether, but Nolan has remained firm in his desire to release the film in theaters.
As of right now, Warner Bros. intends to release Tenet in 70 countries overseas on August 26. Then, it will roll out in select US cities on September 3, followed by a China debut on September 4. Additional countries will follow after. This is a highly unusual strategy, because while early international releases isn’t uncommon, the staggered US release is unlike anything that’s come before. Tenet’s unconventional plan has led some to worry about an increased risk of piracy, especially when it comes to spoilers. As it turns out, those worries might have been spot on.
As noted by TorrentFreak, leaked Tenet footage has already made its way online. So far, it only comes from the special Tenet prologue that was released with Inception‘s 10-year anniversary re-release. Warner Bros. has issued takedown notices in instances where footage has appeared on sites like Reddit. They’ve also reached out to Google to remove copies of the footage that might have been stored on Drive.
That Tenet footage is already being leaked before the movie is even released practically guarantees there will be some serious piracy concerns over the next few weeks. Clearly, Warner Bros. is being especially vigilant about potential leaked footage, so odds are that anything that goes up online won’t be on there for long. Between its delays and its incredibly mysterious plot, there’s a strong desire among audiences to see Tenet, which would make the market for pirated footage especially large.
At the same time, there are signs that people are willing to head to the movie theater to see Tenet. Ticket sales in the UK are already going well, and tickets will be available for the US’s early screenings this Friday. Many are still wary about returning to public spaces amid the pandemic, but the hope among exhibitors is that Tenet will be enough to bring audiences back. Piracy might remain a big concern for Warner Bros., but it remains to be seen if it will actually leave a significant impact on Tenet‘s ticket sales. One thing is clear: All eyes are on Tenet, and it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
Key Release Dates
Tenet
Release Date:2020-09-03
