Action Horror The Hunt's Release Cancelled By Studio Following Criticism

The upcoming action horror movie The Hunt has been pulled from release schedules by distributors Universal. The movie was set to hit theaters next month and had already had its promotional campaign canceled following the shootings in El Paso and Dayton. Now it won't be released at all.

The Hunt is produced by Blumhouse Films, who also made The Purge series, as well as movies like Get Out, Us, and Paranormal Activity. It's a satire in which elites hunt people for sport, and was co-written by Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof. Without naming the movie, President Donald Trump made reference to it in a series of tweets that following the tragic events in El Paso and Dayton last week.

A statement from Universal said: "After thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film. We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film."

The first trailer for The Hunt was released two weeks ago. The basic set-up--humans being hunted for sport--is a familiar one seen in movie such as The Most Dangerous Games, The Hunger Games, and Battle Royale. The movie is directed by Craig Zobel and was originally set hit theaters on September 27, 2019. The cast includes Emma Roberts (American Horror Story), Hilary Swank (Trust), Glen Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and Ethan Suplee (The Santa Clarita Diet).

Editors note: a correction to an incorrect city name had been made to this story.