'Wonder Woman 1984's' HBO Max Release Is 'Incredibly Brave' Move, Joe Russo Says

KEY POINTS

"Wonder Woman 1984" will be released simultaneously in theaters and the HBO Max streaming platform on Dec. 25
Joe Russo praised Patty Jenkins and Warner Bros. for taking this "bold" step
Russo also said this was incredibly brave of Jenkins as a filmmaker

Joe Russo, who directed “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” with his brother Anthony Russo, said the decision to take “Wonder Woman 1984” to the HBO Max streaming platform is “incredibly brave.”

Speaking in an interview with Collider, the 49-year-old filmmaker opened up about releasing movies on streaming services and praised Warner Bros. for taking such a bold step by choosing to debut the highly anticipated “Wonder Woman” sequel on HBO Max.

Russo also commended Patty Jenkins for taking this extraordinary step as a filmmaker.

“I think Patty Jenkins said it best. She made something that she put an incredible amount of love and joy into, and now she's ready to share it with the world. I think it's incredibly brave and bold of her as a filmmaker,” he told Collider.

Russo noted that the circumstances are making it harder for people to visit theaters amid the pandemic. He also believes that the future of films can be both “digital and theatrical.”

“As an artist, if you want to get the most eyeballs, I think that the joint theatrical-digital is an incredible way to do that,” he said.

Jenkins and WB decided to released the second movie in the “Wonder Woman” franchise simultaneously on the big screen and HBO Max on Dec. 25. According to WB, the film will open in the cinemas that remain open on Christmas Day as well as stream on HBO Max that day.

Jenkins also urged fans to see the movie in theaters “where it is made safe to do so.”

“The time has come. At some point, you have to choose to share any love and joy you have to give, over everything else. We love our movies as we love our fans, so we truly hope that our film brings a little bit of joy and reprieve to all of you this holiday season,” Jenkins wrote on Twitter earlier this month.

“Watch it in theaters, where it is made safe to do so (check out the great work theaters have done to make it so!) And available in the safety of your home on HBO Max where it is not. Happy holidays to all of you. We hope you enjoy our film as much as we enjoyed making it,” she continued.