Shout-out to theaters, shout-out to theaters. Despite his history with direct-to-streaming releases, Timothée Chalamet is a proponent of the moviegoing experience.
During a Q&A at the Los Angeles Theatre on Friday, the 30-year-old actor discussed his past projects with Netflix and his feelings about skipping the traditional theatrical window. Chalamet has starred in two films (The King and Don’t Look Up) distributed by the streaming giant, which recently ruffled feathers in the exhibition industry with its all-cash $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.
“If you put out a movie theatrically, what I’ve felt — based on my experience with The King or Don’t Look Up — is that it’s just more of a moment,” Chalamet told DJ and Apple Music podcast host Zane Lowe. “It sounds like cheesy marketing talk, but it’s more ceremonial. It’s more drumroll. And I think it’s hard when something goes direct to streaming … to do that.”
Netflix’s move to purchase Warner Bros. sparked fears that the absorption of the legacy Hollywood studio would deal a major blow to the already-struggling movie business, resulting in even fewer titles getting the full theatrical treatment. In December, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos attempted to allay those concerns by vowing to release Warner Bros. films “in theaters with the traditional windows.”
Though the merger drama wasn’t explicitly mentioned at Friday’s event, Chalamet did declare that he believes in supporting theaters — a statement that was met with cheers and applause.
“I was going to contrast my prior point there, but then people supported it with applause and now I’m afraid,” the Marty Supreme star joked. (To be fair, he credited Netflix for its “unparalleled” reach and ability to “hit things in the zeitgeist” in a different way.)
A testament to the enduring appeal of the big screen, roughly 2,000 devoted Chalamet fans sold out the Los Angeles Theatre this week for a Valentine’s Eve showing of Call Me by Your Name. Cohosted by Cinespia and the American Cinematheque, the feature presentation was followed by an onstage conversation between the Oscar nominee and Lowe.
Director Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 hit was the final installment in the American Cinematheque’s Chalamet career retrospective series, which also included screenings of Marty Supreme, A Complete Unknown, Dune: Part Two, Interstellar, The King and Beautiful Boy.
Reflecting on his time in the spotlight, Chalamet explained that he can’t relate to colleagues who don’t enjoy promoting their films. He looked back fondly on the buzzy, unconventional press tour for Marty Supreme — which concluded memorably with Chalamet summiting the Las Vegas Sphere (then displayed as a giant orange ping-pong ball).
“I relish it,” Chalamet said. “This is the aspirational hip-hop part of me. … What a dream, man. Are you kidding me?” Lately, Chalamet has been busy moving beyond movie promotion and hitting the Oscars campaign trail following his best actor nomination for Marty Supreme.
Chalamet picked up a Critics Choice Award last month for his turn as a table tennis hotshot on a chaotic quest for greatness. He made headlines with his acceptance speech, which included a heartfelt acknowledgment of his “partner of three years,” Kylie Jenner. When asked by Lowe about the awards success, Chalamet praised a few of his fellow Oscar nominees and said it feels great to be recognized alongside them: “Everyone’s killing it, so I feel lucky to be part of that community.”
As the night drew to a close, Lowe shifted course slightly to inquire about EsDeeKid, the British rapper speculated by many to be Chalamet’s secret musician alter ego. Chalamet and EsDeeKid debunked that theory in December by collaborating on a remix of the latter’s song 4 Raws, but Lowe couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask the actor if he would be joining the rapper on tour.
Chalamet playfully dodged the bait: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
