‘The Hunt’ Filmmakers Were Reportedly Receiving Death Threats

UNIVERSAL

The most talked-about film of the month is one which hasn’t been launched.

And possibly by no means will.

Last week, The Hunt — a satirical thriller about wealthy individuals (“elites”) searching frequent folks (“deplorables”) — was pulled off the schedule by Universal Pictures. “While Universal Pictures had already paused the advertising and marketing marketing campaign for The Hunt, after considerate consideration, the studio has determined to cancel our plans to launch the movie,” a Universal spokesperson stated in an announcement. “We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.”

The announcement of The Hunt being buried was made after the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and Donald Trump calling it “racist,” however Universal was cautious about releasing the movie earlier than then. According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Sources say multiple Universal executives had reservations about the project when leaders Jeff Shell and Donna Langley bought it in May 2018.” Even after the advertising and marketing was pulled, studio executives and the filmmakers, probably together with director Craig Zobel, producer Jason Blum, and co-writers Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof, “began receiving death threats via email and on social media and immediately paused the campaign.”

Sources say the studio’s inside safety pressure turned concerned, however exterior regulation enforcement was not alerted. It seems that Universal didn’t foresee the maelstrom to return, together with round the clock Fox News segments and tweets by Trump seemingly directed on the title. (Via)

The Hunt could by no means see the sunshine of day within the United States (we don’t deserve Betty Gilpin), however it could nonetheless get launched in international markets.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)