Film releases postponed as COVID-19 cases reach record high

Poster for films “Kingmaker,” left, and “Emergency Declaration” / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M and ShowBox

By Lee Gyu-lee

A number of film distributors are postponing the openings of their films, after the government reinstated bolstered social-distancing rules to curb a surge in coronavirus infections. The country saw the number of infections reach a record 7,850 cases, Wednesday.

The premiers of local films “Kingmaker,” starring Lee Sun-kyun and Seol Kyung-gu, and “Emergency Declaration,” starring Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun, have been pushed back after being scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Megabox Plus M, the distributor of the political drama “Kingmaker,” announced Friday that it has changed the film's release, originally scheduled for Dec. 29, to January. It also canceled the lead actors' promotional events and interviews.

“We had planned the release based on the eased social distancing rules, but as the government implemented stricter regulations, it was inevitable to postpone this,” it said in a statement.

Showbox, the distributor of the star-studded blockbuster “Emergency Declaration,” has also indefinitely postponed its January premiere.

“We have worked very hard to present the film to open up a new year,” it said in a statement, Wednesday. “We too are saddened to delay the release, as we have looked forward to the day, but we came to the decision after careful consideration… we will be there when it's safer for viewers to come out to the theaters.”

Hollywood's animated flick, “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” has delayed its Dec. 29 release to Jan. 12 and Spanish horror-thriller, “Feedback,” rescheduled its release set for Dec. 22 to Jan. 5.

The government announced Thursday tighter social distancing measures, as the country has been suffering another serious wave of virus infections.

From Saturday until Jan. 2, the curbs will restrict gatherings to no more than four people ― only those who are fully vaccinated. Restaurants, cafes, and bars must close by 9 p.m., and entertainment facilities such as movie theatres and internet cafes will be forced to close by 10 p.m.