WESTWOOD, CA — More than two years after the historic Bruin Theater went dark, the Westwood movie house could welcome audiences again this fall.
Toronto-based theater operator Rui Pereira has signed a lease with the Martyn Skouras family, which owns the Bruin, and is aiming to reopen the theater in mid-October, Deadline reported.
Special screenings or premieres could take place even sooner, according to the publication.
Pereira told Deadline that the theater remains in good condition, including its seats and screen. He plans to restore its 35mm and 70mm film projectors and upgrade its digital projection equipment.
"I want to keep the essence of the theater," Pereira told Deadline. "I don't want to erase its history or gloss it over."
The Bruin opened in 1937 and operated for decades alongside the nearby Village Theatre, becoming a fixture of Westwood Village's moviegoing scene. Both theaters were designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in 1988.
The Bruin and Village theaters closed in July 2024 after Regency Theatres' leases expired. Regency had operated the properties since 2010.
At the time, the Bruin's owners said they were evaluating future opportunities for the property.
Across the street, a group of filmmakers led by director Jason Reitman had already reached a deal to acquire the Village Theatre and announced plans to renovate the landmark.
Pereira has operated movie theaters in Canada for years, including Toronto's Kingsway Theatre and the former Humber Cinema. He told Deadline that preserving the original character of historic theaters has also been a priority at his previous properties.
Future plans could include adding two small screening rooms upstairs, each with about 15 seats. Studios have already contacted Pereira about holding premieres and private screenings at the theater, according to Deadline.
The Bruin also holds a place in Hollywood history beyond its premieres. The theater appeared in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," in a scene depicting Sharon Tate attending a screening of "The Wrecking Crew."
The planned revival comes amid renewed investment in several of Los Angeles' best-known movie theaters.
Last week, Sony Pictures announced its plans to restore the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood and reopen the adjacent 14-screen multiplex as an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. The complex has remained closed since the pandemic.
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