A Regal Cinemas theater in Florida played a racy clip in front of a Thanksgiving weekend screening of Disney’s “Frozen.” But was it really the graphic trailer for Lars von Trier’s upcoming drama, “Nymphomaniac”?
“I would say that whatever those kids in Florida saw, it’s extremely unlikely it was anything from ‘Nymphomaniac,’” Matt Cowal, SVP of marketing and publicity for Magnolia Pictures, tells TheWrap.
The response from Magnolia Pictures, which owns distribution rights to the film, squashes internet rumors that arose early Tuesday. Gawker picked up on a report Tuesday morning from UK entertainment site MoshNews that suggested the clip was indeed a copy of the latest trailer from “Nymphomaniac,” which features oral sex among other graphic acts.
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“If the Gawker ‘Frozen’ story is true, it would’ve had to been uploaded from the internet and repurposed by a particularly twisted projectionist,” Cowal said, adding that the trailer only exists online and hasn’t been sent to any exhibitors.
The Nov. 29 screening of the PG-rated “Frozen” was delayed due to technical difficulties, and while the audience waited, a classic Disney cartoon was played which unexpectedly switched to the explicit scene, according to Fox 13 of Tampa Bay. Parents at the Regal Cinemas Park Place Stadium 16 in Pinellas Park, Fla., described trying to shield their children’s eyes and ears from the offending material.
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Magnolia tweeted a link on Tuesday to the Gawker story about the incident with the hashtag #NYMPHOMANIAC, but Cowal suggested it was merely tongue-in-cheek.
Regal Entertainment Group said in a statement to TheWrap that the incident did happen, but would only say that an “incorrect movie” played by mistake. R-rated “Dallas Buyers Club,” which features several graphic sex scenes, is among the movies currently playing at the multiplex.
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“In an isolated incident, the wrong movie did start Friday evening [Nov. 29] in one auditorium at Park Place. Less than two minutes of this incorrect movie were shown before it was stopped,” VP of marketing and communications for Regal Entertainment Group Russ Nunley wrote.
“After the correct movie was shown, our manager gathered the audience to apologize and offer future visits for free. At the end of speaking, the audience applauded the theater manager for his response and sincere apology.”
Nunley added that Regal staff was taking steps to ensure a mistake like this would not happen again.