WE ASK: why did the 2021 movie adaptation of Zamyatin’s highly acclaimed dystopian novel never go out on general release? It had a glossy trailer and a great cast, and was slated for release in December 2022. The scheduled release was pulled and no subsequent distribution has ever been confirmed. The project is often listed in film databases as “unreleased.”
There’s no definitive public statement explaining exactly why the release was cancelled or indefinitely postponed. Some likely factors might include rights or licensing complications, censorship or regulatory hurdles, post-production or technical challenges, or difficulties securing distribution — especially for a politically charged dystopian novel in film form. The absence of a public rollback or explanation suggests internal or legal issues may have derailed the release, rather than purely creative or logistical failure.
Could it be this production strayed too close to the truth of the regime in modern Russia?