Earlier in the year, the Monkey Man trailer made waves on the internet, capturing global attention. Directed by Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire (2009) fame, who also stars in the lead role, the trailer’s action, violence, and overall treatment stirred excitement. Premiering at South by Southwest on March 11 to a standing ovation, the film garnered further hype. Initially set for release in the USA and other major territories on April 5, with an Indian release planned for April 19, recent developments have caused uncertainty.
Recent social media posts by Universal Pictures India no longer mention the April 19 release date, opting instead for a vague ‘Coming soon.’ Even on ticket platforms like BookMyShow, the film’s release date has disappeared. Speculation is rife that the film may not make its scheduled April 19 premiere.
A source informed Bollywood Hungama that the studio aims to release Monkey Man in Indian theaters on April 19, pending clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), “The studio wants to bring Monkey Man to theatres in India on April 19. But it all depends on its clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film has excessive violence and there are fears that some of its aspects might hurt the sentiments of the section of the audience. Hence, the Censor process is expected to take time. Also, the Universal Studios team in the USA also needs to permit the changes asked by the CBFC. Once they approve, the local team will carry out the changes and only then, the team will announce the release date.”
The source elaborated that if the clearance process concludes as planned, Monkey Man will hit Indian screens on April 19; otherwise, it could face a delay to April 26, “If the process gets completed on time, Monkey Man will be released in India on April 19. Or else, it’ll release a week later, on April 26. A clearer picture will emerge in a week’s time, hopefully,” the source concluded.
Monkey Man follows a young man seeking retribution against corrupt leaders who murdered his mother. In addition to Dev Patel, the film features Sharlto Copley, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vipin Sharma, and others. Originally slated for a Netflix premiere, Jordan Peele, known for Get Out (2017) and Us (2019), was impressed by the film and acquired it, believing it merits a theatrical release.
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