Home Entertainment Universal scraps theatrical release of The Hunt after US mass shootings, Trump criticism

Universal scraps theatrical release of The Hunt after US mass shootings, Trump criticism

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In an absolutely staggering revelation, the USA has had 255 mass shootings thus far in 2019 alone. The fact that we’re only 222 days into the year, makes this even more shocking – America has an undeniable epidemic of violence on their hands. The debate around who or what’s to blame rages on in just about every corner of the internet, with many pointing fingers at US President Donald Trump’s inflammatory statements regarding immigrants/people of colour as well as American’s controversial gun control policies as major contributing factors. Whatever the cause, the effects of recent tragedies have now been felt by Hollywood as well.

The Hunt is a satirical-horror film starring GLOW’s Betty Gilpin that saw a number of conservative GOP-type Trump supporters who wake up in a field and discover that they are being hunted for sport – as a result of the opinions they shared on social media – by a group calling themselves the “liberal elites”. The film – directed by Craig Zobel and penned by Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse – was originally titled Red State vs Blue State, so it’s clear how much it would have dug into the current tense political climate in the US.

In light of recent shootings across the US sparking controversy around the film’s premise online, Universal Pictures and production house Blumhouse initially first stalled the film’s marketing as several broadcasters dropped the film’s ads. This weekend past though, the studio announced via press release that it’s cancelling The Hunt’s theatrical release entirely.

While Universal Pictures had already paused the marketing campaign for The Hunt, after thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film. We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.

This announcement was made on Saturday and it’s all but impossible that it’s a coincidence that this happened just one day after President Trump went on a Twitter rant about it. Although he never actually names The Hunt, it’s clear by his referral to the “Elite” that he was referring to the film when he tweeted out “They like to call themselves ‘Elite,’ but they are not Elite.”

Chances are pretty good that The Hunt won’t be completely mothballed here. As has been the case with many other controversial films which tied into politics or social issues at the time, the film will more than likely be released – either direct-to-TV or on some VOD platform – sometime in the future when the uproar surrounding mass shootings in the US dies down. Unfortunately, unless something drastic happens over there, I don’t see there being any opportunity for that too happen anytime soon. And that’s the biggest tragedy here.

Last Updated: August 12, 2019

131 Comments

  1. There is no reason for a civilian to have access to a semi automatic rifle.

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      August 12, 2019 at 10:31

      Yup. Their bullshit 2nd amendment, which is an AMENDMENT, should be… Wait for it… AMENDED.

      Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      August 12, 2019 at 09:40

      Sports shooting. That is one. But it should be limited to actual sports shooters…as I am only “occasional” and not SAPSA registered/member, I would (and should) find it difficult here. But dedicated sports shooters have a reason.

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        August 12, 2019 at 09:40

        is it really though? How about we just get rid of sports shooting. Many many pastimes have been banned over the years and if sports shooting is a reason for semi automatic rifles to exist then we can get rid of it

        Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          August 12, 2019 at 09:40

          Some people are radicalized over the internet with various sites and videos etc. Some perverts are perverted even further over the internet due to access to porn etc. Ban the Internet for the benefit of all.

          Some people die and get injured playing sports. Ban all sports.

          Some children grow lazy and obese due to playing video games all day. Ban all video games.

          Let us all go back to the “good old days” and become Amish.

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            August 12, 2019 at 09:51

            A gun was designed with the sole use of killing animals and people. No other object that has been designed for this use is legalised. Comparing it to the internet or sports makes literally no sense.

            Just because you can get hurt or die from doing something is no reason to ban it. Banning something that is 100% invented and developed to kill is an entirely different argument.

          • RinceThis

            August 12, 2019 at 10:31

            Erm. No. Guns are for one purpose and one alone. The things you just mentioned are not.

          • Magoo マグ

            August 12, 2019 at 11:26

            It’s as grey an area as any. Bow/arrow was created to kill. Should we ban them too? Are the Olympic games glorifying violence?

          • Gavin Mannion

            August 12, 2019 at 21:24

            Tons of bow and arrows are actually banned and illegal to own. So yeah I’m for that as well.

            The Olympic games are obviously not glorifying violence in their shooting activities as there is no violence. Should they continue to have boxing in the games… no, but that’s because a. Boxing is not a sport it’s just violent dancing and b. The “best” boxers aren’t allowed to compete as they are professionals so it’s all horse shit

          • Mark Treloar

            August 13, 2019 at 07:17

            Arguments can be made to vilify any sport including football.

          • Dresden

            August 12, 2019 at 10:48

            Ban all fighting sports. It promotes a culture of violence. People are literally beating the shit out of each other on a daily basis and we cheer for it and place bets to see who can hurt the other more.

            Seriously though, I’m with you on recreational gun activities shouldn’t be banned but I think the USA can tone down on their gun culture as a whole gradually.

        • Mark Treloar

          August 13, 2019 at 07:16

          Ban football then too

          Reply

  2. Gavin Mannion

    August 12, 2019 at 09:40

    Here’s a thought. If guns really aren’t the problem then I suggest we ban white males from having guns as they are the only ones who commit these mass shootings so according to all stats they shouldn’t be allowed to be armed.

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      August 12, 2019 at 09:40

      To quote: “Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on this and take your racist bullshit and piss off”

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        August 12, 2019 at 09:51

        Is it racist when it’s factual though. Every single (99%) mass shooter in America has been white and male.

        Doesn’t mean all white males are mass shooters but it does kinda say we shouldn’t be giving white males semi automatic rifles without absolute proof they won’t commit a mass shooting

        Reply

        • For the Emperor!

          August 12, 2019 at 09:51

          “Every single (99%)” – your definition of “every single” differs quite a lot from mine…

          Reply

        • konfab

          August 12, 2019 at 10:40

          You are factually wrong on that. Mass shootings being defined as killing more than 4 people in a single incident are about 51% black. Which again confirms my previous thesis that it is due to social malady.

          https://files.catbox.moe/xqvpov.jpg

          https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/274538/51-mass-shooters-2019-were-black-only-29-were-daniel-greenfield

          What is interesting though, is that I think white people tend to be more effective (for lack of a better word) mass shooters than other groups. Which then makes them more logical targets for the media. It isn’t really international news when two local gangs in Detroit kill each other in a shootout, even though they likely make up most of the mass shooting statistics.

          Reply

          • HvR

            August 12, 2019 at 10:48

            *injuring more than 4 people

            South Africa probably had 2500 “mass shootings” with that definition.

          • konfab

            August 12, 2019 at 10:58

            Yup.
            Which *might* indicate that it isn’t a problem with the firearm legislation.

            It is a social problem based on economic opportunity for young men and the lack of fathers in the picture to help them deal with it.

            Pointing out that it has started happening to white people as well in the US is considered racist.

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 12, 2019 at 10:58

            Yeah I’m seeing a big lack of “allwhite” here

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 12, 2019 at 10:58

            One of the comments from one of your links:

            “Blaming guns for criminal behavior is like blaming forks for obesity”

          • Gavin Mannion

            August 12, 2019 at 21:11

            Two gangs fighting aren’t innocent victims. Someone wiping out their family isn’t a random mass shooting.

            We all know what we are talking about here. Every single time there is a mass shooting of innocent civilians in America it’s a white guy. But yeah continue convincing yourself that it’s not and guns are fine.

            Just don’t come here and spread racism else I’ll call it out and ban you… simple

        • For the Emperor!

          August 12, 2019 at 09:51

          “Every single (99%)” – your definition of “every single” differs quite a lot from mine…

          Reply

  3. RinceThis

    August 12, 2019 at 10:31

    Typical America. ‘we have the laziest guns laws on the planet’ hundreds of mass killings. Better change the movies that other countries also watch… Erm ?

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 12, 2019 at 10:40

      Oh and the games! Think of it, we’re all one DOOM playthrough away from going on a murder-spree. All of us!

      Reply

      • For the Emperor!

        August 12, 2019 at 10:48

        My opinion – those who go “blame the violence in games/movies” are mostly in the pocket of the gun lobbies.

        Reply

        • HvR

          August 12, 2019 at 10:48

          Yes and no.

          Prominent anti-gun lobbies blames video games for children used to the idea of using firearms. They are lobbying that all video games featuring firearms be banned

          Reply

          • For the Emperor!

            August 12, 2019 at 11:07

            “mostly” 🙂

        • konfab

          August 12, 2019 at 10:58

          • For the Emperor!

            August 12, 2019 at 11:07

            Oh she is in everyone’s pockets 😛

    • Dresden

      August 12, 2019 at 10:48

      I think this has more to do with Universal not wanting to face financial backlash for being brazen on such a hot topic.

      Reply

  4. HvR

    August 12, 2019 at 11:17

    As an indication of how stupid both the gun ban and game/movie ban arguments are:

    Last 2 decades “consumption” of video games increased dramatically AND gun ownership increased dramatically yet the intentional homicide rate has been dropping dramatically over the same time period.

    Incidents of crazed individuals committing massacres stayed the same.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 12, 2019 at 11:17

      Has it been THIS bad for the last 2 decades? More than 1 mass shooting a day?

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Umbra

        August 12, 2019 at 11:17

        Media reporting on it more, because it sells

        Reply

      • HvR

        August 12, 2019 at 11:17

        Going the on the very very loose definition used to get to that 250+ figure it was way worse pretty much double.

        If you are talking about the rational non-politicized definition of a single person or small group going out to to indiscriminately kill a group of people due to self-rationalised “ideal”. Which is 2 to 5 incidents a year stayed the the same.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 12, 2019 at 12:20

          That’s actually insane.

          Reply

          • HvR

            August 12, 2019 at 12:20

            Then you probably should not look at the South African stats…….

          • Pariah

            August 12, 2019 at 12:20

            I live here, I know how bad our stats are. It’s just that we don’t really get to see the US stats over time.

  5. Magoo マグ

    August 12, 2019 at 13:39

  6. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    August 12, 2019 at 11:44

    Man this is the most heated up thread in CH history

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 12, 2019 at 12:12

      Oh there have been much MUCH more heated articles. For the most part, while we’re disagreeing on stuff, things are still quite civil.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Umbra

        August 12, 2019 at 12:20

        Yes, rewind back to the “4/10 dafuq” Dragon’s Dogma article

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 12, 2019 at 12:21

          I was not around for that one. But there were a few Glenn articles that brought about some proper hate. I also vaguely remember a Zoe article causing some heat at one point?

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 12, 2019 at 12:30

            Yeah, that was a 7 to 9 out of 10 heat scale, the 4/10 one was nuclear

          • Pariah

            August 12, 2019 at 12:40

            Over a review I’m guessing? That’s pretty bonkers.

          • Admiral Chief Umbra

            August 12, 2019 at 12:51

            Yep, Garth gave Dragon’s Dogma a 4/10 and the internet went ape

          • For the Emperor!

            August 12, 2019 at 12:40

            Glenn generally writes good, generally well researched articles (my opinion). He just sometimes gets the topics most likely to cause conflict in the comments sections (my opinion, perhaps because he writes so well that he is entrusted with them) and proceeds to sometimes use a phrase or two himself that, whether meant to or not, are quite inflammatory (my opinion).

            Cannot remember the Zoe article, or this Dragon’s Dogma one that @Admiral_Chief:disqus is mentioning…

          • Pariah

            August 12, 2019 at 12:40

            Yeah 99% of the time Glenn’s articles touch on those subjects most likely to draw ire, which is why I think he is the one writing them. As you say, he generally does a lot of good research and writes very well.

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        August 13, 2019 at 10:20

        I must have missed those lol

        Reply

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        August 13, 2019 at 10:20

        The main reason i’m a CH regular is because this is the best little community on the internet. Mostly everybody knows what they’re talking about, and it’s always civil. Love it

        Reply

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