It almost feels like 2020 all over again, as the Omicron virus threatens to shut things down across the globe.
Deadline reports, Canada’s No. 1 movie theater chain Cineplex, which operates 67 multiplexes in Ontario, has let go about 5,000 part-time workers due to Ontario’s recent decision to close cinemas amid the Omicron surge.
“Because of the mandated closures of our theatre and entertainment venues across Ontario, we made the tough but necessary decision to once again temporarily lay-off our part-time workforce, impacting nearly 5,000 roles. We are eager to get our team back to work once and for all as soon as these temporary restrictions are lifted,”
A Cineplex spokesperson told Deadline this afternoon.
So far the news of entertainment business closures around the world have been subtle, with minor movie release dates pushed back. So quiet in fact, we cannot even be sure that these release date changes are due to the current state of the ongoing pandemic. Movie studios like Sony, who just recently pushed back their Spider-Man spin-off "Morbius", has yet to even comment as to why they've decided to move the date from January 28th to April 1st.
Neither the less the closures are said to be temporary and expected to last until Jan. 28, 2022. Cineplex plans to rehire the part-time staff back. Staff workers will be able to take full advantage of unemployment during their time off from work.
What do you think? Will 2022 be a remake of 2020 all over again with more closures or dare we ask, do you think more studios will push back dates amid the rise of the omicron variant?