Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror No. 2’ Faces Burial by Warner Bros.

AFI Fest, the longest-standing film festival in Los Angeles, is set to conclude its 38th edition with the world premiere of Clint Eastwood’s "Juror #2" at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. This event will feature stars like Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Zoey Deutch gracing the red carpet, marking the festival’s fourth world premiere of a film directed by Eastwood. At 94 years old, this courtroom drama also marks Eastwood’s 40th directorial endeavor and is speculated to potentially be his final one.

Following the festival premiere, Warner Bros. plans to release "Juror #2" in a limited capacity, showing in less than 50 theaters initially, with no immediate expansion scheduled in the following weeks. While specific location details are still being finalized, the film is currently listed to screen in a handful of theaters across major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The official website for the film is promoting showtimes in 18 markets, with Cineplex in Canada planning to open the film in one Toronto theater and 160 venues nationwide.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson confirmed that "Juror #2" will have a global release in the U.S., U.K., France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, with the movie making its worldwide debut at AFI Fest. Interestingly, the studio is reportedly considering not disclosing box office earnings for the film, a move that deviates from the typical practice in Hollywood. This strategy echoes Disney’s approach with the release of "Young Woman and the Sea," which premiered in select theaters before debuting on Disney+.

Initially conceived as a streaming release, "Juror #2" transitioned to a theatrical run after production, with a budget in the mid-$30 million range. Despite the limited release for awards qualification, internal sources at Warner Bros. do not view the film as a major Oscar contender. This stance aligns with Eastwood’s recent track record, as his films have not garnered significant awards recognition since "American Sniper" in 2015.

The decision to release "Juror #2" in a limited theatrical capacity reflects a nuanced relationship between Eastwood and Warner Bros., which faced scrutiny following the underperformance of "Cry Macho" in 2021. Despite past challenges, Eastwood’s longstanding partnership with the studio has led to the greenlighting of "Juror #2," albeit with cautious expectations regarding its commercial success.

In the evolving landscape of the film industry, the modest rollout of "Juror #2" underscores the shifting dynamics of theatrical distribution and the balancing act between commercial viability and artistic merit. As the film industry continues to navigate changing audience preferences and market conditions, the release strategy for "Juror #2" exemplifies the complexities faced by filmmakers and studios in today’s cinematic landscape.