Official details have been unveiled for the upcoming black and white screening of this year's Logan. Originally released nearly two months ago in March, James Mangold's film was instantly hailed as one of the greatest comic book movies ever made, sending Hugh Jackman's Wolverine off on the highest of notes. Logan was quite different from many other superhero adaptations, relying more on the tropes of classic Westerns than the bombastic spectacle the genre has become associated with. The approach certainly worked wonders, as Logan received much critical acclaim and earned $607.7 million worldwide on a "minuscule" $97 million production budget.
One of the reasons why Logan generated much excitement before its premiere was a stellar marketing campaign that hammered home the gritty tone and visual aesthetic the creative team was striving for. Prior to the first teaser trailer, most of the promotional materials consisted of cryptic black and white images that teased characters and locations, and some viewers expressed a desire to see the finished product in the format. Theatrically, Logan was obviously released in color, but the Blu-ray will include a black and white version. For those who can't wait to see it, however, it will be on the big screen later this month.
In a press release, the Alamo Drafthouse and 20th Century Fox announced official details for a one-time screening event of Logan Noir, which will take place on Tuesday, May 16. The monochromatic edition will be shown in Alamo Drafthouse locations across the country. After the movie, there will be a live-streamed Q&A session with Mangold, which fans can participate in by using the hashtag #AskAlamo on Twitter. Attendees are requested to wear black and white attire, and anyone dressed in such clothing will receive an exclusive commemorative poster. Tickets are available at drafthouse.com/logannoir.
Alamo Drafthouse Founder and CEO Tim League called it an "absolute honor" to collaborate with Mangold on this release, saying the director's inclusion "only adds to the gravity of the event and we plan to make this an epic evening in all our theaters." Mangold touched on the fan enthusiasm to the black and white imagery he posted on social media, mentioning that monochrome seemed to enhance the "western and noir vibes" of the film. The screenings should make for a special night, as this is something the viewers have wanted to see for a while, and it's something Mangold himself is passionate about. To top it all off, moviegoers will have a chance to see Logan in theaters one last time before it hits home media later this year, which will be all some people need to buy a ticket.
Over the past couple of years, Fox has done a great job of listening to the fans and engaging them as they develop their Marvel slate. The outpouring of support for the "leaked" Deadpool test footage led to that R-rated hit getting the green light, and now Mangold and company are delivering a much-requested monochromatic Logan for all to see. It's nice to see the filmmakers organize events like this for viewers. Given how strong the reception was for Logan when it first came out, there will likely be a large turnout as everyone says goodbye to the living legend Hugh Jackman.
Logan Noir will screen in Alamo Drafthouse locations on May 17, 2017. It will be available on Blu-ray later this year.
Source: Alamo Drafthouse and 20th Century Fox
