ENGLEWOOD, CO – As TV service providers seek to cash in on the premium video-on-demand window, Dish Network said Wednesday that its customers will be able to watch the movie Passion Play on the same day that it is released in theatres.
Passion Play is an independent, $14 million-budget movie starring Mickey Rourke, Bill Murray and Megan Fox that is scheduled for theatrical release on May 6. The U.S. DTH company will add the film to its VOD library on the same day, and charge customers $5.99 to watch it in HD, and $4.99 for the standard definition version. Dish’s announcement said that the film would be available May 6 – 16, 2011.
“Dish Cinema offers our customers the hottest Hollywood hits, and we’re thrilled to deliver Passion Play in HD on the same day it’s available in theaters", said Dave Shull, Dish Network’s SVP of programming, in the announcement. “Dish Network is committed to giving our customers the best in-home movie experience. Not only do we offer movies simultaneously with the theatrical release, but also we give our customers access to a huge library of movies available 28 days before Netflix and redbox, as well as on the same day or prior to DVD release.”
Passion Play, which debuted at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, is the story of a down-on-his-luck jazz trumpeter named Nate (Mickey Rourke ),whose life changes when he meets Lily (Megan Fox), the star of a carnival sideshow attraction who has beautiful, real wings. The two begin to fall for each other just as a menacing gangster named Happy Shannon (Bill Murray) decides he wants Lily for himself.
