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Controversial Film The Hunt Released In The USA On 13 March

Controversial Film The Hunt Released In The USA On 13 March

It was pulled from the schedule after a spate of shootings, but now it is finally arriving in US cinemas

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

After being pulled for sensitivity reasons last year in the wake of a spate of mass shootings, satirical action thriller The Hunt is finally going be released in cinemas in March.

The controversial film, in which a gang of 'elites' hunt down and murder 'deplorables' was originally slated for release last year before a number of tragic incidents in Ohio, Texas, and California that saw more than 30 people killed led those behind the film to put a pin in proceedings.

Now,according to The Hollywood Reporter, it's coming out on Friday 13 March.

The film, which contains a whole heap of strong violence, has been directed by Craig Zobel and focuses on 'a gang of wealthy snobs who try to wipe out a group of assorted individuals who have posted right-wing views online'.

The swirling controversy surrounding the film was added to by President Donald Trump, who - in his own inimitable style - tweeted: "Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and with great Anger and Hate! They like to call themselves "Elite," but they are not Elite.

"In fact, it is often the people that they so strongly oppose that are actually the Elite. The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos. They create their own violence, and then try to blame others. They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country!"

The Hunt stars Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank.
Universal Pictures

The Hunt has been co-written by Watchmen creator Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse and is based on a short story from 1924 called The Most Dangerous Game.

It has been produced by Jason Blum under his Blumhouse Productions label, which is famous for horror films like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and Jordan Peele's Get Out.

After the shootings in El Paso, Dayton, and Gilroy, Universal released a statement that said: "Out of sensitivity to the attention on the country's recent shooting tragedies, Universal Pictures and the filmmakers of The Hunt have temporarily paused its marketing campaign and are reviewing materials as we move forward.

The Hunt will be in US cinemas on March 13.
Universal Pictures

Jason Blum added: "We weren't going to win the conversation around that and so it was our decision, in holding hands with [distributor] Universal, to take the movie off the schedule."

"None of us were interested in taking sides with this movie."

Now, the film has a release date and will be shown in more than 3,000 screens across the United States.

As yet, there is no scheduled date for release in the UK or Australia.

Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Topics: TV and Film, US Entertainment