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CINEMA CHAIN CINEWORLD is set to close its UK and Irish sites in the coming weeks.
The closures come as the release of the latest James Bond film was further delayed from November to spring 2021, the PA news agency understands.
As first reported in The Sunday Times, bosses will write to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to tell them that cinema has become “unviable” as studios keep putting back blockbuster releases.
The cinema chain may not re-open its doors until the end of the year or early 2021, the Sunday Times also reported.
The chain operates one Irish cinema in Dublin city centre, which is currently closed due to the capital being under Level Three of restrictions.
The closure of its 128 sites across the UK and Ireland will put up to 5,500 jobs at risk.
In July, the British government promised a package of more than £1.5 billion to help the arts and culture industries forced to shut down earlier this year as a result of the pandemic.
Cineworld had reopened most of its cinemas in July when lockdown measures were eased across the UK and Ireland.
Daniel Craig’s final outing as spy James Bond will not hit big screens until next April, it was announced on Friday.
No Time To Die was originally scheduled for release in April 2020, but was first pushed back to November as a result of the pandemic.
A statement on the film’s official Twitter account said: “We understand the delay will be disappointing to our fans but we now look forward to sharing NO TIME TO DIE next year.”
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Cineworld said that “we can confirm we are considering the temporary closure of our UK and US cinemas, but a final decision has not yet been reached”.
“Once a decision has been made we will update all staff and customers as soon as we can.”
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@Brendan O’Brien: It’s quite easy, it’s called clutching at the straws of diversity, every Ad on TV and poster campaigns on the streets portrays Ireland as a mixed race family paradise. It’s the push against white families that bothers me. The demographics on the street don’t mirror what’s on our TVs, pushing the THEIR narrative down our throats.
@Freda Peeple: ‘push against white families’ is sheer fantasy. I prefer to see a recognition that not everyone in the country is white.
@Brendan O’Brien: Of course you do Brendan, you will lap up whatever you are served.
@Freda Peeple: as seen on our children school books recently…”white family bad” “mixed family AWESOME” I will add I have no problem with mixed race family, but according to our advertisers they are the norm. They aren’t
@Freda Peeple: No point talking to him, he eats cornflakes with a fork.
@William Slevin: Could not have said it better myself.
@William Slevin: ‘There are too many Black people on my television’ is just racism no matter how you slice it.
The Bear is next level telly.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: I thought S3 was a bit of a comedown after the high of S2. Still very good though.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: Season 3 was awful
@William Slevin: fully agree. I reckon the next season could be the last.
Racists even in this comment section …
@Jack Hayes: “I hear your a racist now Father Jack”
People of colour have lived in Ireland for years. White is also a colour!
Shogun is an absolute bore fest. Visually it is fantastic but the writing is bad and the two main characters are wholly unlikeable.
True Detective NC was good, but they could have toned down the slapstick humour a bit. Was lacking a more serious tone in my view.
have your say