Glen Powell’s Hit Man has just been the most recent addition to the filmography of Richard Linklater. Over the years, he has gained a reputation for creating masterpieces, in the form of projects like the Before trilogy, Boyhood, and Dazed and Confused. Having been such a prominent figure in Hollywood, it is safe to say that he understands how the industry works, and this isn’t always a good thing.
The film has gained quite a lot of attention since its release. With its 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stellar audience reviews, many have wondered why the filmmaker chose to release the movie on a streaming platform directly.
During a recent interview, he revealed his reasoning for this, and it would seem that, in his eyes, big studios are to blame.
Why Did Glen Powell’s Hit Man Not Have a Theatrical Release?
Glen Powell’s Hit Man has been getting a lot of critical acclaim from all directions. The film’s impeccable cast seems to only be an addition to its assets, as the project has an excellent premise and storytelling method, and the cinematography is almost like a spectacle.
With so much going for it, many would have started by releasing the movie in theaters, then eventually brought it to streaming services. However, the movie was directly released on Netflix. During a recent interview with IndieWire, Richard Linklater revealed his reasoning for taking such a decision, and it is safe to say that his motivations are quite interesting.
As though answering his own question, he mentioned why he did not go to studios like Universal and Warner Bros. with his movie, considering just how good it is. It would seem that the matter was not one of money or success for Linklater but one of an ethical and creative dilemma.
How about Universal or Warner Brothers? I look at the studios, if anyone wants to cast blame. The indie film [world], to me, seems to have the same goals that it’s always had: to show films and try to find an audience somewhere.
The filmmaker revealed that he was not interested in working with big-name studios, as they have a tendency to find an audience of any kind rather than make something of substance. Not wanting to make a project in such a creative environment, Linklater opted for Netflix instead.
Richard Linklater Does Not Like What Studios Have Become
Richard Linklater then went on to talk about his thoughts on studios in recent years. While many have blamed the change in Hollywood on audiences’ ‘changing minds’, he believes that the blame lies with the studios. The filmmaker stated that there is a visible and drastic shift between the types of movies major studios would release years ago and what they release now.
It’s the studio world, to me, that’s changed the most. They’ve abdicated a kind of filmmaking. They’re not interested in even making this type of film [anymore]. They’re not interested in adult entertainment.
