Quiet Place 2 Stars Battling Studio Over Pay Due to Shortened Theatrical Run

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A Quiet Place Part II stars John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are battling Paramount over their pay due to the studio shortening the theatrical run. Paramount had one of the surprise box office hits of 2018 when A Quiet Place arrived. The movie made $341 million worldwide and was a massive hit for all involved thanks to its low budget. It didn't take long for conversations to begin about a possible sequel, with Krasinski confirmed to write and direct the follow-up with Blunt once again starring in early 2019.

Paramount originally gave A Quiet Place 2 a March 2020 release date and was just about to release the movie when COVID-19 shut down theaters around the world. This forced the movie to be delayed multiple times. It was previously pegged to be one of 2020's biggest box office hits too. Now, more than a year after its intended release, premiere, and junkets, A Quiet Place 2 is receiving a very different rollout due to how studios now view theatrical and streaming. This has led to a dispute over pay between the movie's stars and producers with Paramount.

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RELATED: A Quiet Place Part II Final Trailer Breakdown: 20 Story Reveals & Secrets

It was previously announced by Paramount that A Quiet Place 2's theatrical run will only last 45 days, instead of the usual 90 days, before the movie is available on Paramount+ for all subscribers. According to a report from Bloomberg, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and others are asking for greater compensation from the studio. Krasinski and Blunt's contracts for A Quiet Place 2 include bonuses based on the film's box office performance. Since Paramount has cut the theatrical run in half and is releasing the movie at a time when the theaters that are open are operating under limited capacities, Krasinski and Blunt believe they deserve more money for a release strategy that limits the film's box office longevity. These discussions are reportedly still ongoing, but Paramount has so far not agreed to further compensation.

The dispute between Paramount and A Quiet Place 2's stars could be the first of many for the studio. During the ViacomCBS Investor Day call in February 20201, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish said all of the studio's films will head to Paramount+ between 30-45 days after their theatrical debuts. Contract bonuses based on box office are quite common for stars of Krasinski and Blunt's stature, so others are likely closely monitoring what Paramount does for them. Mark Wahlberg's Infinite is now a Paramount+ exclusive and Tom Cruise has Top Gun: Maverick and two Mission: Impossible films on the horizon. They'll both want the biggest possible paydays, so Krasinski and Blunt could help set a precedent for what Paramount will do for the industry at large.

Assuming Paramount eventually agrees to pay Krasinski and Blunt more for A Quiet Place 2, the stars could really cash in regardless of how well the movie does at the box office. Warner Bros. had to strike similar deals with stars and directors after announcing their HBO Max release plans. Recent projections estimate that A Quiet Place 2 could open on par with the original domestically, though. Godzilla vs. Kong proved there is still a path to box office success in this marketplace, so now we'll have to wait and see if A Quiet Place Part II becomes the latest movie to hit big.