If you define “ironic” based on the famous ‘90s-era Alanis Morissette song of the same name, then what is happening to the film “Songbird” is very much like “rain on your wedding day.” You see, the Michael Bay-produced thriller was written and produced during the recent lockdown and tells the story of a world that is still shut down due to a mutated strain of COVID. And now, as the film prepares for release, it appears the real-life pandemic is changing how STXFilms releases the feature.
According to STXFilms, “Songbird” is skipping a theatrical release, as the studio has done for other big films, “My Spy” and the upcoming “Greenland,” and is instead going straight to PVOD in December as a $19.99 48-hour rental. The reason? Well, the real pandemic is still raging in the US and theaters are either shut down or not attracting crowds, so PVOD seems like the only option.
“The pandemic has affected every aspect of our business, from production to release, but ‘Songbird’ demonstrates that a nimble studio like STX can find effective and profitable ways to make their movies work, as we have similarly with ‘Greenland’ and ‘My Spy’ during these challenging times,” said Adam Fogelson, chairman, STXfilms Motion Picture Group. “The show must go on. ‘Songbird’ is a thrilling movie that will speak to audiences in this moment as it keeps them on the edge of their seats.”
As the recent trailer for the film showed, “Songbird” tells the “Romeo & Juliet”-esque story of starcrossed lovers that are kept apart due to a mutated COVID virus that has forced the world to be in lockdown for four years. And when one of the young lovers finds their lives threatened, the other must venture out into the virus-laden wasteland to save her. The film is directed by Adam Mason and produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. The film stars KJ Apa and Sofia Carson.
As mentioned, “Songbird” will arrive on PVOD on December 11.