Universal is the latest Hollywood studio to stop sending its films to Russian cinemas, joining other major players – Disney, Warner Bros., Sony and Paramount – in withdrawing its publications after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Universal Pictures has stopped planned cinemas in Russia,” a Universal spokesman said in a statement.
Universal had animation The bad guys will be released in Russia on March 24 with Michael Bay’s Ruler to follow April 7. The bad guys is a production of DreamWorks Animation and voice stars Sam Rockwell, Mark Marron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos and Aquafina. Ruler starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Matin II as bank robbers who, after the robbery went awry, attract an ambulance and take the driver and passenger hostage.
Disney launches a wave of studio action on Monday, saying it will withdraw its releases from Russia, including Pixar Turning red. Warners and Sony quickly followed suit for hours, while Paramount made its own announcement Tuesday morning. Warners may have the most to lose The Batman the most famous project, downloaded from any studio, and this move was made only days before its planned release. As of Sunday, the studio had planned to stick to its date The Batman. Other high-profile projects that are no longer launched in Russia include Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sony’s Jared Leto Marvel movie, Morbius.
The big studios, which are downloading their films, followed the European Union’s move over the weekend to ban Russia from the global interbank messaging system SWIFT. Without SWIFT, studios may not be able to get money back from their Russian distribution partners.