Showcase reinstates gang film Blue Story at Black Country cinemas after brawl
Showcase has reversed a decision to pull screenings of gangland film Blue Story after trouble flared at Birmingham's Star City.
The cinema chain, which has venues in Dudley and Walsall, last night revealed it was reinstating screenings after "careful consideration".
Gangs of youths, some armed with machetes, clashed at Star City on Saturday evening with seven police officers injured in the violence.
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Six arrests were made and West Midlands Police continues to investigate.
Following the trouble, Star City cinema operator Vue made the decision to pull Blue Story from its 91 UK and Ireland venues.
Vue claim the decision to remove the film from its screens was 'not taken lightly' but followed a spate of similar incidents.
Bosses said there had been 25 "significant incidents" within 24 hours of the film's release in 60 of its cinemas last Friday.
The move has prompted a backlash on social media with some labelling the ban as discriminatory.
A petition calling for Vue to reverse its ban on Blue Story has nearly 20,000 signatures.
Cinema firm Showcase had initially stopped showing the film, but reinstated screenings on Monday night after "careful consideration and discussions with the distributor".
Showcase has cinemas in Bentley Mill Way, in Bentley, Walsall, and on Castlegate Park, in Birmingham Road, Dudley.
WATCH the trailer for Blue Story here:
I give you the official Blue Story movie trailer! Out in cinemas everywhere November 22nd! 🙏🏾 @ParamountUK @BBCFilms @BlueStoryMovie pic.twitter.com/zoFoP2C3mm
— Rapman (@RealRapman) September 3, 2019
I give you the official Blue Story movie trailer! Out in cinemas everywhere November 22nd! 🙏🏾 @ParamountUK @BBCFilms @BlueStoryMovie pic.twitter.com/zoFoP2C3mm
— Rapman (@RealRapman) September 3, 2019Blue Story is being screened today at 7.30pm and 10pm at Walsall and 8.15pm and 9.30pm in Dudley.
A Showcase spokesman said: "We took the decision to temporarily suspend screenings of Blue Story to enable us to assess the situation.
"After careful consideration and discussions with the distributor in the last 24 hours, we have come up with a plan to re-instate screenings of the film supported with increased security protocols and will be doing so from this evening.
"We want to reassure our guests that their safety - and that of our staff members - is our absolute priority."
Andrew Onwubolu, known as Rapman, who wrote and directed Blue Story, said the film is about "love not violence" following Vue's decision.
Last night he tweeted: "Showcase have stuck to their word and have reinstated Blue Story to their screens."
