DreamWorks Animation's TROLLS WORLD TOUR, the sequel to their 2016 hit TROLLS, was supposed to be in theatres on April 17th, 2020 in RealD 3D and Dolby Cinema. Newer posters have even said the film will be released in IMAX. Of course, COVID-19 pandemic puts a pause on everything until at least June 2020. DreamWorks Animation then scheduled to release the film on April 10th in theatres and on digital rental. As time went on, the theatrical release became impossible and now....the movie appears to be direct-to-video!

I saw the first TROLLS movie in RealD 3D back in 2016 and thought it was okay. The new movie looked and sounded like it could be an improvement with a better story and a better soundtrack. The two critics on Rotten Tomatoes who saw the film internationally even say it's better than the first. By taking away it's theatrical release, the studio is taking away the fan's experience of either seeing it in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, or even IMAX if those rumors were to be true. They are also taking away the chance for the cast, crew, and fans to have a red carpet premiere of the film. Why couldn't the studio just postpone the movie to later in the year like July or something? In case you all forgot or were never aware of this, here's what John Fithian, chief of the National Association of Theatre Owners or NATO has said in a statement:

Only Universal, and only on Trolls, did one studio skip the theatrical model and go straight to the home. Universal continues to advertise to consumers that Trolls will be released simultaneously to theaters and the home on April 10. And they are lying to consumers. Universal knows that theaters will still be closed on April 10, so unlike every other distributor who must simply delay their releases in that time period, but still understand that theatrical release is essential to their business model, Universal on Trolls didn’t make that decision. Exhibitors will not forget this. With the exception of Universal, every studio has gone overboard to reassure exhibitors that the theatrical model works for them, and that they look forward to releasing their movies theatrically once the virus is done. And every one of those studios called their exhibition partners and talked through their plans for delayed release before they announced them. Only Universal on Trolls undermined the theatrical model. And Universal told no exhibitor about their plans on Trolls until approximately 20 minutes before their announcement. Exhibitors know who their partners are. And every other studio has demonstrated true partnership and belief in the theatrical model during this time of crisis for all Americans, and indeed all moviegoers around the world.

What I suggest is that after the heat calms down around the world, Universal and DreamWorks Animation show the movie in theatres as originally intended. Even if it's just for one or two weeks, as long as fans see it in theatres in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, or IMAX. If it also comes to IMAX 3D, that'll be great, but that part is up to IMAX. As long as I see it in 3D, that'll be great. I don't want to feel regret over seeing and liking the original when it came out, but I was really looking forward to a better sequel, just NOT direct-to-video. The only DWA movies I disliked were THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON, SINBAD: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS, FLUSHED AWAY, direct-to-video JOSEPH: KING OF DREAMS, and the upcoming film version of SPIRIT RIDING FREE. I honestly don't know why they're making that last movie.

The point is this movie should be in theatres and I would love the fans and fellow moviegoers to pass this message along. I talked to someone on Cineplex the other day about the movie and she "will pass the message to the film department for the suggestion and they will take the appropriate measures". Please consider doing the same. Thank you!