The film is only opening on VOD Friday. Apatow tweeted that the launch of the movie in roughly 100 theaters nationwide was an error.
Universal scrambled to scrub Pete Davidson and Judd Apatow’s new comedy “The King of Staten Island” from theaters — mainly drive-ins — after the film was mistakenly booked at roughly 100 theaters across the country.
An individual familiar with the mix up said that Universal booked “The King of Staten Island” in a limited number of theaters, like it had done for “Trolls World Tour,” which premiered on streaming in April.
Once executives realized the mishap, even though Apatow’s film was intended to only go on streaming, they pulled it from the theaters at which it had been booked.
Also Read:Pete Davidson Wanted ‘King of Staten Island’ to Be ‘Love Letter to His Mom,’ Judd Appatow Says
The film, which is based on what Davidson’s life could have been like had he not become a comedian — the SNL cast member is from Staten Island, New York — is meant to be a “love letter” to Davidson’s mother, as well as a tribute to his late firefighter father who died responding to the attacks on 9/11.
