A Spike Lee joint is coming to theaters just in time for the holidays. Previously Lee’s Chi-raq was only expected to premiere on Amazon’s Prime service, but now Amazon Studios is working with Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate for a theatrical release for the film on Dec. 4. Chi-raq is a musical comedy remake of the Greek play Lysistrata. Instead of Grecian women refusing to have sex with their husbands in order to end the war it will be the women of Chicago, led by Teyonah Parris, joining forces to end “Chiraq’”s own war.
Were it not for Lee and Amazon’s excitement for the movie, moving up its release date, Chi-raq would have premiered at next year’s Cannes Film Festival. Soon after its Dec. 4. premiere, Chi-raq is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime. In the past Amazon Studios had said original films would be available to stream on Amazon six to seven weeks after a cinema debut, making it unlikely that theaters would show the film. That's sort of why the final Paranormal Activity installment is only being shown in select theaters, because of its plans to be released on Video on Demand shortly after its premiere in theaters.
In addition to Parris, Chi-raq’s cast includes Common, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Piven, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and more.
[via THR]
