Tim Burton's 3D Alice in Wonderland, starring Mia Wasikowska (above) and Johnny Depp (as the Mad Hatter), is facing some hurdles with European exhibitors following Disney's announcement that it would release the revamped fantasy adventure early on DVD. Initially, several major British exhibitors said they would boycott the film, a threat that has been taken up by some of their Dutch and Italian counterparts as well.
Alice in Wonderland is scheduled to open in theaters around the world on March 5. Disney wants to release the film on DVD less than three months later; the standard window is four months. "We will lose money due to our decision; we expected [Alice in Wonderland] to become one of the most popular movies of 2010," Youry Bredewold, a representative for Pathe and the National Board of Cinema Owners, told Agence France Presse. "But we decided we need to send a message to the whole industry: If you don't accept our terms, we will never show your movies again."
Another problem: If Disney tries to accommodate foreign exhibitors, American theater owners could make their own demands as well. Some insiders, however, claim that seems unlikely. Among other titles being released early this year are Jason Reitman's Up in the Air and Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.
Others in the Alice in Wonderland cast are Helena Bonham Carter, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee and Barbara Windsor.
More on the European boycott in The Guardian.
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures
Tim Burton has a unique style when making his movie. I love Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands.,,'