Ben Affleck‘s addiction drama The Way Back has been pushed way back. Sort of. Warner Bros. has delayed the film from its planned October release of this year to March 6, 2020 instead.
The film finds Affleck re-teaming with frequent collaborator Gavin O’Connor (The Accountant). He plays a former basketball star struggling with alcoholism who attempts to redeem himself by returning to his alma mater to coach the high school basketball team.
However, in a rare move, this delay is not a negative one. The film has reportedly scored very well with test audiences, and the studio is very happy with it. The reason for the delay then? Warner Bros. think the film will perform better if promoted to basketball fans next spring during March Madness and the NBA season. That’s smart.
So, instead of opening against Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil and Sony’s Zombieland: Double Tap, the film will now open against Disney/Pixar’s Onward. While that might seem foolish – animated Disney films are a box office juggernaut – The Way Back should serve as good counter-programming.
The film is also being pushed because the studio has several adult-oriented dramas hitting cinemas before the end of the year. Those include The Goldfinch, Motherless Brooklyn, The Good Liar and Just Mercy. The studio also has huge films such as IT: Chapter Two, Joker, and Doctor Sleep coming soon. The Way Back could easily get lost in the shuffle. This delay is probably best for everyone.
For those that still need their Affleck fix this year, worry not. He will next be seen in Dee Rees‘ crime drama The Last Thing He Wanted alongside Anne Hathaway. That’s hitting Netflix sometime in 2019. He’ll also appear in Kevin Smith‘s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. That arrives Tuesday, October 15.
#Peace.Love.TheWayBack
