Israel's largest cinema operator to reopen all its branches on July 9, the company's CEO said on Monday.
All cultural centers, including movie theaters, have been closed for the past three months due to the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Last week the government voted to allow most cultural centers to reopen in accordance with public health orders.
Avi Edri told Ynet that despite approval from Culture Minister Chilli Troper for cinemas to reopen, there aren't actually any new film releases ready to be screened since most major movie studios have pushed the release dates for their films to later in the year.
"The audience will not come to see old movies, the audience wants new films and blockbusters and they will come in early July, so that's when we will reopen the cinemas and celebrate it," he said.
Among the first films to be screened once the cinemas reopen is the latest live-action remake of Scooby-Doo titled "Scoob!" which can be streamed in the U.S. on Amazon Prime streaming service.
Edri said the cinemas will operate under strict health restrictions. "If we do not create a safe environment, the audience will not come," he said. "We want the audience to feel safe."
Among other big cinematic releases expected this July are Disney's live-action remake of "Mulan" and Christopher Nolan's "Tenet."