As Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated Tenet once again is delayed for an unknown date (with a possible international release being slated for months before the domestic release), Warner Bros included in their press release nine "off the record" paragraphs for journalists to not share with the public. Naturally, as this is not how "off the record" statements work (a statement must be agreed by both parties to be off the record, not just one party saying "this is off the record", especially not in a press release), it was soon posted online by Texas Monthly writer Dan Solomon.
In the release, Warner Bros claims journalists have been unfair about Tenet's reporting, saying that “journalists covering film should have a vested interest in the health of our business” and that “fair coverage should reflect that [the reporters covering the industry need us to succeed]”, as well as being upset at the claim that Tenet would require 800 million at the domestic box office to break even, though they give no specifics number as to what it would actually take. Warner Bros also reportedly requested journalists not to report that streaming could damage the movie theater industry.
Needless to say, this kind of response is quite unprecedented from a studio to privately ask journalists to positively report on a movie because harm to the industry would also harm journalists. Needless to say, none of this is actually legally "off the record", so what do you guys think of this statement by WB? Is it fair to ask journalists to report positively about them for the sake of the industry? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.