Cineplex Won't Require Guests to Wear Masks as Theaters Reopen

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerEveryone’s favorite coach on The Voice will be bringing his own music to drive-in theaters this summer.Blake Shelton will have main squeeze Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins on board for the July 25 concert series debut, location TBD.

Canada's Cineplex has launched a CAN $275 million (US $202 million) debt-securities issue to shore up its balance sheet after its $2.1 billion takeover by Regal owner Cineworld Group was called off. On Tuesday, Cineplex unveiled plans for a public offering of unsecured convertible debentures underwritten by a syndicate of Canadian banks.

As it continues a phased reopening, Canadian exhibitor Cineplex has started legal proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against Regal owner Cineworld Group, "seeking damages after Cineworld wrongfully repudiated the transaction to acquire Cineplex." On June 12, the U.K.-based cinema giant had called off its planned $2.1 billion takeover of Cineplex, which would have created one of the world's largest cinema companies with more than 11,200 screens globally.

Naman Ramachandran Canada’s Cineplex has initiated legal proceedings against Regal Cinemas owner Cineworld Group over its failed acquisition deal.Cineworld moved on June 12 to scrap its $1.6 billion acquisition of the Canadian business — a move that instantly anticipated legal action from Cineplex, which promised to sue just days later.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorPalme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlund (The Square) resumed shooting in Sweden last week on his satire Triangle Of Sadness, following a three month break due to COVID-19.With a budget of more than $11M, the project is one of the biggest European movies to get back underway since the pandemic struck.Ostlund’s first English-language feature is a satire that takes on the world of fashion and the super rich.

Canada's Cineplex reported a $178.4 million loss in the first quarter after the global COVID-19 crisis shuttered its theaters and out-of-home entertainment venues since March. During the latest quarter, the Canadian exhibitor posted a non-cash impairment charge of $173.1 million related to goodwill, right-of-use assets and property and leasehold charges.

After theatres were forced to shutter in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, moviegoers in Alberta will be among the first in the country to experience big-screen thrills this weekend when locations in Edmonton and Calgary reopen.

MGM Resorts — which operates the Bellagio, MGM Grand and other properties in Las Vegas — is the latest entertainment firm to require a face mask policy for guests at its locations nationwide. The resort firm said that the new rules would go into effect on June 26.

Rebecca Rubin News Editor, OnlineAlamo Drafthouse unveiled plans to reopen its movie theaters during coronavirus, pledging that its venues will be “safer than a supermarket.”Those steps include dramatically increasing physical distancing measures, implementing enhanced cleaning protocols and temporarily altering its service model.

Online movie ticketing service Fandango is launching a new resource guide as movie theaters begin to reopen across the country that will include information on safety and social distancing measures. The service, which launched Tuesday, will feature a rundown of mask and protective-equipment policies and enhanced cleaning measures being implemented at more than 100 theater chains.

Scott Soshnick David and Simon Reuben, who amassed a fortune investing in real estate, technology companies and leisure, are exploring a bid for the New York Mets, people familiar with the matter told Sportico.The brothers, who were born in India and moved to London as teenagers, have a combined net worth of about $14 billion — built on one of the largest portfolios of retail, office and residential properties.The brothers are likely drawn to the team because of the real estate development

Rebecca Rubin News Editor, Online“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” Paramount and Nickelodeon’s animated adventure based on the absorbent underwater fry cook, is skipping its planned theatrical debut. It will instead launch on premium digital rental services in early 2021 before landing exclusively on CBS All Access, the streaming service owned by the studio’s parent company, ViacomCBS.It was originally slated to hit the big screen on May 22, but was postponed until Aug.

Masks have been a controversial issue ever since the COVID-19 pandemic made its way into the United States and Canada in March of this year. The CDC and the World Health Organization initially questioned their effectiveness, with most arguing that the healthcare workers needed them more than the public.

Raven-Symoné is the “happiest she’s ever been” after tying the knot in a secret backyard ceremony with her girlfriend Miranda Maday. The 34-year-old actress shared the news with fans on June 18 that she’s a married woman now. The ceremony was so small and intimate that some of the former The View co-host‘s friends weren’t even aware it took place. And her fans weren’t in the know that Raven had a special lady due to how private Raven is about her love life.

Actress. Singer.

website, “as related to our employees, guests will also be required to wear masks.”The moves come after critics on social media said that cinemas are not going far enough if they do not require customers to wear face masks.Earlier this week, AMC, Regal and Cinemark all said in their reopening plans that employees would be required to wear masks and other personal protective equipment, but the same would not be asked of customers unless local or state officials mandate the use of masks in public

Jordan Moreau Regal Cinemas has updated its reopening policy and will now require guests to wear face masks at their locations when theaters are able to resume business.“Our current mask policy requires both employees and guests to wear masks at all Regal theaters,” a company spokesperson told Variety. “Our ultimate goal is to create a safe environment for our guests and employees.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAMC Theatres has reversed course and will require all of its guests to wear masks when it reopens. The about-face comes after AMC chief Aram Aron ignited a deluge of criticism and controversy when he told Variety that mask-wearing would be encouraged but not mandated in states where it was not a requirement.