Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs is getting a theatrical release in China. Since the release of 1996’s Bottle Rocket, Anderson has been entertaining American moviegoers with his quirky and endearing filmmaking. He’s also gained a loyal international fanbase, too, given the universal appeal of his productions. But Anderson’s films have never been theatrically distributed in a certain Asian country - something that will soon change.
Last month, Anderson premiered Isle of Dogs at the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. Set in dystopian Japan and centering on a canine flu epidemic, the stop-motion animated film earned Anderson his first Silver Bear award for Best Director. Isle of Dogs will open in the United States this Friday, and it's generally considered to be one of the most anticipated March 2018 film releases. Isle of Dogs currently holds a 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and features an all-star voice cast, including Scarlett Johansson, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, and Edward Norton, to name a few.
Related: Isle of Dogs Early Reviews
Per THR, Chinese audiences will soon be privy to the Wes Anderson theatrical experience at last. On April 20, Isle of Dogs will have its premiere, and moviegoers can thank the China Film Group for making it happen. At this time, neither Global Road Entertainment nor 20th Century Fox representatives have commented on the breaking news, although it's been confirmed by production partner Joy Pictures. As Deadline also reported, Isle of Dogs represents the third Fox Searchlight film to receive a theatrical release in China, coming after Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water and Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
It’s an exciting time for Chinese moviegoers, as it was recently announced that X-Men spinoff film Deadpool will premiere at the Beijing International Film Festival in April. The Marvel Comics adaption has made over $783 million in worldwide ticket sales to date, and recently saw Black Panther overtake its February opening record. The Chadwick Boseman-headlined Black Panther has already grossed over $1 billion worldwide, including more than $128 million in China. However, it was overtaken in the country this past weekend by Roar Uthaug’s Tomb Raider, an action/adventure film starring Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft.
While Isle of Dogs won’t slay at the box office like superhero films, there’s nothing like the experience of watching your favorite director’s work on the big screen. And considering Anderson’s stop-motion aesthetic, it will be that much more unique for Chinese audiences. As the world becomes smaller through social media, independent and mainstream productions alike continue to bring international moviegoers together, making the collective conversation even more interesting and inviting.
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