Exclusive: The Hunt's Jason Blum was "relatively confident" it'd get a release after controversy
The Hunt is finally coming to cinemas after its original release was delayed by controversy over the first trailer.
Talking to Digital Spy, producer Jason Blum has revealed that he was "relatively confident" that the social thriller would eventually be released, despite the movie being criticised before anyone had even see it.
"I wasn't sure, but I worked really hard to try and make it happen and we really wanted it to happen, was hoping it would happen, wasn't 100% sure, but I felt relatively positive," he reflected.
"I could have lived without the controversy. I was very happy with our September date. And I guess you're saying if I had to do it all over again, would I have hoped for the same result? No, I would have hoped we could have just released it in September."
The Hunt centres on 12 strangers who find themselves hunted for sport by a group of liberal elites at the remote Manor House.
But the hunters didn't count on one of their targets, Crystal (Betty Gilpin), turning the tables on them.
Blum explained that GLOW star Gilpin might not have been the star of the movie if it wasn't for the movie's co-writer Damon Lindelof.
"[Betty] was very difficult to negotiate from her commitment to Netflix. It was very hard, the timing was really tough, and Damon was just dogged about it and just said he had a vision for it," Blum explained.
"To tell you the truth, I actually, at one point, I was like, 'Damon, Betty is terrific, but this is just too hard'. And he pushed us, pushed me, not to give up and I actually think it was arguably the best decision of the movie.
"I think the movie really, really works because of Betty and I'm, obviously, most of all grateful to her, but also really grateful to my partner on the movie without whom Betty wouldn't have done it."
The Hunt is released in UK cinemas on March 11 and US cinemas on March 13.
Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter accounts.
You Might Also Like
