Distant is a sci-fi drama directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, featuring a cast that includes Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott, and Zachary Quinto. It tells the story of a spaceship pilot who crash-lands on an alien planet and must rely on a fellow crew member trapped in her escape pod to survive and navigate the harsh terrain. While production was completed in November 2020, the film has been without a U.S. release date for nearly four years.
Universal Pictures has shuffled Distant's release date several times, initially setting it for March 11, 2022, then moving it to September 16, 2022, and postponing it again to January 27, 2023. Most recently, Amblin's website suggested a January 19, 2024, release, but this too was removed as of November 2023. This lack of confidence from the studio implies concerns regarding the film's quality and market viability, igniting speculation that they might opt for a direct-to-video release instead.
Interestingly, Distant has already premiered in Vietnam, where it was released on July 12, 2024, yet it performed poorly at the box office. Audience reactions from this initial release could provide valuable insights into the film's reception and inform whether Universal should reconsider its strategy. Feedback on the movie's strengths and weaknesses could prove crucial, either influencing a potential U.S. market entry or determining its fate in digital distribution.
The future of Distant remains uncertain as Universal Pictures grapples with its long-delayed release. The film's trajectory may serve as a cautionary tale for studios about managing expectations in a rapidly evolving cinematic landscape.
It's truly perplexing how a film shot in 2020 has struggled for release when there are numerous avenues for distribution more than ever—whether through theaters or streaming platforms. The decisions made by Universal seem to suggest a lack of faith in the movie's appeal, which makes you wonder whether they are holding out for something that may never come. Alternatively, releasing the film directly to audiences might help recoup losses and test audience reactions without the burden of a full theatrical release.
What do you think Universal should do with Distant now? Should they release it to theaters or consider a streaming platform? Why?
