The Leonardo DiCaprio starrer Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) has been on every cinephile’s radar ever since it premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation. The film was previously scheduled for a limited release in select theatres and a wider release through Apple TV+.
With the ongoing strikes, Hollywood’s future is uncertain with several films in production stuck in limbo and many upcoming 2023 releases delayed to 2024. There was a possibility that the Martin Scorsese epic would meet the same fate as others. Fortunately, the fate of the film is in safe hands based on recent news regarding its mode of release.
Killers of the Flower Moon Set for A Wide Release in Theatres
As reported by Variety, the Martin Scorsese-directed crime epic led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro is swinging for the fences and is planned for a wide release in theatres around the globe on October 20, 2023. The film will later stream on Apple TV+ after the end of its theatrical run at an undetermined date.
This is a surprising move on the part of Apple Studios and Paramount Pictures who are co-distributing the film. While many films including big-budget studio films are being delayed to 2024 due to the ongoing strikes, the makers of the film seem confident of the product and are determined to deliver the film on its intended date. However, there might be a lack of awareness of the film to the general public since the actors will not be able to promote the film due to the strikes.
Killers of the Flower Moon is Swinging for the Oscars
A big reason why Apple Studios is not changing the release date of the film is its intention to make it one of its prestige projects into the Oscar race next year. With other studios like Universal putting out Oppenheimer (2023), the Best Picture contenders next year will be packed with real-life historical dramas. Apple Studios also has Napoleon (2023) starring Joaquin Phoenix slated for November of 2023. Hence, it looks like Apple wants to make its place among other established studios as a rising studio that puts out Oscar-caliber projects and establishes its reputation and integrity.
What is Killers of the Flower Moon About?
The film is an adaptation of David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and The Birth of the FBI. It is a murder mystery based on the real-life killings of the people of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s, owing to the oil deposits and resources found beneath their land. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, and Brendan Fraser among others.
Killers of the Flower Moon will be released in theatres worldwide on October 20, 2023.
Source: Variety
