Paramount has pulled the upcoming family film Clifford the Big Red Dog from its release schedule. The Clifford film, which is directed by Walt Becker, is a CGI/live-action mix based on the beloved Scholastic children’s book series of the same name by Norman Bridwell, first published in 1963. The giant, friendly pooch has been the focus of multiple TV series, and a movie adaptation has been discussed for years at various studios. In 2016, it was announced that Paramount had acquired the rights for a film version.
Clifford the Big Red Dog follows the adventures of the eponymous Clifford, who is adopted by a middle school girl named Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp, known for her work on Big Little Lies and The Christmas Chronicles). Though Emily Elizabeth is told by the magical animal rescuer (British comedy legend John Cleese) from whom she gets the pup that Clifford will grow in accordance with her love for him, she never expects to end up with a giant dog in her NYC apartment. Joining the fun is Emily Elizabeth’s Uncle Casey, played by Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise). Clifford the Big Red Dog's charming trailer was released in June, and the film was scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 17, 2021.
Now, though, it seems audiences will have to wait a bit longer to see Clifford. Deadline reports that Paramount has pulled the highly anticipated film from its September release schedule, citing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the Delta variant. Paramount is allegedly of the opinion that families will be unlikely to go to movie theaters in September. No new release date for Clifford has yet been announced.
Clifford was set to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, but that is also in question at this time. Further details will likely be announced in the coming days and weeks. This is not the first time Clifford’s release has been pushed back by the pandemic - it was one of many films to be delayed from a 2020 premiere date due to COVID-19.
While the film’s new delay is certainly disappointing for everyone from the filmmakers to the audience, Paramount’s decision makes a lot of sense. The Delta variant is a serious concern, and parents with young kids - the intended audience for Clifford - are going to be making decisions with their families’ health at the forefront of their minds, which likely does mean that many of them will be staying away from crowded indoor spaces like movie theaters. If Paramount is committed to a theatrical release, pushing back the premiere date is the safest way to ensure that Clifford has a chance at the box office. In the meantime, those audiences can find plenty to watch on streaming services, including Whitehall's current film, Jungle Cruise. Fortunately for Paramount, fans of Clifford the Big Red Dog have been around for nearly 60 years, and no doubt they will be ready and excited for the film whenever it ends up being released.
Source: Deadline
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