Netflix to release The King in Australian cinemas

Just when it looked like all hope was lost that Netflix would release any of its award contenders in Australian cinemas, along comes great news.

Good news! Looks like Australian audiences will get to see a much touted Netflix movie in cinemas after all.

The King, which stars Timothee Chalamet, Joel Edgerton and Robert Pattinson, will debut on Netflix on November 1 but eager beavers will get to catch it in select cinemas from October 11.

Chalamet will also be on hand to launch the film at a red carpet premiere at the Randwick Ritz in Sydney on October 10.

Following the premiere, The King will have a short run in independent cinemas. It will screen in Victoria at the Classic, Lido and Cameo cinemas, in Sydney at Randwick Ritz, Dendy Newtown and Dendy Opera Quays, in Brisbane at Dendy Portside and Dendy Coorparoo, in Canberra at Dendy Canberra and in Perth at The Backlot.

The King will be released in cinemas from October 11 and released on Netflix on November 1

It’s the first movie this year Netflix will release into cinemas locally. Last year, Netflix released Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar winner Roma into cinemas for two weeks.

For Australia, it makes sense for The King to be released theatrically given the visual scale of the historical epic but also because it’s a project that originated in Australia.

Edgerton co-wrote the screenplay with director David Michod (Animal Kingdom) while the two of them also produced alongside Liz Watts. Edgerton and Michod will also attend the Sydney premiere.

The movie is based on William Shakespeare’s Henry plays and follows a young Prince Hal (Chalamet) who must learn to cope with power and war with France when he’s unexpectedly thrust on the throne when his father (Ben Mendelsohn) dies.

Joel Edgerton co-wrote and produced the film

Originally, The King didn’t appear to be headed for a theatrical release in Australia. The Australian film industry body AACTA even declared the movie eligible for its annual awards, which AACTA touted as the first movie to be ruled eligible to compete despite not having a theatrical release.

The King will also be released in cinemas in the US, among a raft of movies Netflix hopes will be award contenders. Most award bodies, including the Oscars, require a film be released into cinemas before it can compete.

The King premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month to mixed reviews.

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