Real-life tragedy has forced Universal Pictures to press pause on their marketing campaign for their Blumhouse release, The Hunt. The studio is now rethinking their strategy in the wake of recent mass shootings which have taken the lives of 34 people in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Gilroy, California.
A studio rep had this to say about halting the campaign:
“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 follows 12 red-state strangers who wake up in a clearing and realize that they’re being hunted by liberals. Betty Gilpin and Oscar winner Hilary Swank play women on opposite sides of the political spectrum, conservative and liberal, who are targeting each other.
The first step Universal is taking is that there will be no TV or digital spots for The Hunt, nor will there be any outdoor advertisements. Despite these moves, the September 27 release date will remain unchanged as of now.
