The Hunt: Blumhouse horror film release cancelled by Universal after Trump's criticism
Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe praised distributor's 'humanity' but said 'this is not the solution'
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Your support makes all the difference.Universal Pictures has cancelled the release of Blumhouse horror thriller The Hunt following the recent mass shootings and criticism from Donald Trump.
The film, which follows 12 red-state strangers who wake up in a clearing and realise they’re being hunted by liberals, was seemingly slammed by the president who, on Twitter, said that the film was designed to “inflame and cause chaos”.
His words came after reports that the distributor had “temporarily paused” its campaign in the wake of 34 people being killed in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio last weekend.
The Hunt, written by Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse, stars Hilary Swank, Emma Roberts and GLOW star Betty Gilpin. Universal released a statement announcing the release cancellation, stating that ”now is not the time” for the film.
Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, Swank refused to discuss the film with Screen Daily Editor-in-Chief Mike Goodridge, saying: “No one’s seen the film. You can’t really have a conversation about it without understanding what it’s about.”
According to Deadline, she added: “My desire to tell certain stories has always been the same, no matter who the president is,” she said. “The choices that I’ve made pretty much inform who I am as a person, and that’s not going to change no matter what’s happening.”
While many agreed with the decision to pull The Hunt‘s release, the announcement angered some on social media who claim the plot has been misinterpreted.
Robin Schweiger, who has read the film’s script, wrote: “Liberals on social media seemed to interpret it as sympathetic to racist MAGA types, while the conservative bubble interpreted it as liberal wish fulfillment. Everyone was p***ed. And everyone was wrong.”
Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe commended Universal and Blumhouse's "humanity", but noted the irony that, in the US, a film about shootings has been banned before guns.
There’s currently no word on what will happen with The Hunt, which is directed by Craig Zobel.
Lindelof's next project, Watchmen, will be released on HBO and Sky Atlantic in October.
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