U.K. Theaters Temporarily Pull Gangland Film, ”Blue Story,” Amid Violence During Screenings

By – @cakedupdrippedout

Screenings of the film ​”Blue Story,” which follows the tale of two London friends who become entangled in gang life, have been pulled from theaters for a second time following safety concerns. The reasoning behind this latest cancellation was due to yet another incident that took place in Nottingham on Sunday evening.

Multiplex chain Cineworld decided to temporarily suspend the film following a stabbing at one of its theaters in Nottingham on Sunday night. ​A 16-year-old boy was detained on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after allegedly stabbing a 20-year-old man during the end credits of the film. The man was rushed to the hospital, where he is listed as being in stable condition. Witnesses describe pandemonium, as moviegoers fled the theater in a panic.

Cineworld released the following statement about the incident: ”Cineworld can confirm that we were required by Nottinghamshire Police to close screens 9-14 this morning during their investigation. However, this investigation did not affect our ability to operate, and customers can still purchase tickets for showings of ​Blue Story ​this evening, tomorrow, and throughout the week. We currently have no plans to cancel any of these screenings.”

This latest halt comes just a week after ​”Blue Story ” was pulled from the theater chain, Vue, for similar violence during a screening. The decision stemmed from a massive fight that broke out in a theater in Birmingham, described as “25 serious incidents.” Vue CEO Tim Richards reassured patrons that the film would be returning to cinemas, but with plans of tightened security.

In the meantime, Andrew Onwubolu, the rapper turned filmmaker who is making his directorial debut, has had plenty of setbacks with the release of his film, with another British chain, Showcase Cinemas, also initially pulling ​The Paramount-released film before reinstating it. Neither of the cinema chains nor authorities have attributed the violence to the film directly. However, placing bans on the film certainly appears as if the executives are taking a side.