Warner Bros. has struck a deal with Cineworld over its theatrical roll-out of movies in 2022. The world’s second largest cinema chain, which owns Regal theaters in the US, will have an exclusive 45-day window to show the studio’s films.

As reported by Deadline, Warner’s movie will open exclusively in Regal theaters in the US in 2022, and, providing they open to a mutually agreed box office threshold, they can stay there for 45 days. This threshold has not been revealed, but it will possibly change, depending on the movie. Big Warner movies currently scheduled for release in 2022 include The Batman, Aquaman 2, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3.

What happens to the movies after 45 days hasn’t been confirmed yet, but a release on HBO Max seems likely. Throughout 2021, Warner is releasing its films simultaneously to HBO Max and into theaters. However, the studio has stated that this will only be for a year, and the Cineworld deal confirms its intention to continue with a theatrical model, albeit with a drastically reduced window.

In a statement, Cineworld SEO Mooky Greidinger said, “We are very happy for the agreement with Warner Bros. This agreement shows the studio’s commitment to the theatrical business and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100 year relationship with Warner Bros.”

In related news, Regal theaters will start reopening in the US from next week. A limited number of sites will open on Friday, April 2 when Godzilla Vs. Kong releases, with more locations to follow on April 16 with Mortal Kombat. Cineworld closed all 536 Regal theaters last October following the second delay of the James Bond movie No Time To Die.