Just over a month before its release in theaters, upcoming movie The Hunt was pulled from release schedules by distributors Universal last week. The move came in the wake of the trafic shootings in El Paso and Dayton and criticism from President Donald Trump. Now director Craig Zobel has commented on the film's cancellation and the problem of the "rush to judgment."

　　The film is a variation on the familiar plot used in movie such as The Most Dangerous Game, Battle Royale, and The Hunger Games, in which humans hunt each other for sport or survival. In an interview with Variety, Zobel explained that the movie had been misrepresented in the press, and that it satirized both sides of the political divide. "If I believed this film could incite violence, I wouldn't have made it," he said. "Our ambition was to poke at both sides of the aisle equally. We seek to entertain and unify, not enrage and divide. It is up to the viewers to decide what their takeaway will be.

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　　Now Playing: Canceled Movie The Hunt's Director Speaks Out

　　"I wanted to make a fun, action thriller that satirized this moment in our culture--where we jump to assume we know someone's beliefs because of which 'team' we think they're on… and then start shouting at them. This rush to judgment is one of the most relevant problems of our time."

　　Nevertheless, Zobel stated that he supported the decision to pull the movie following the tragedies in El Paso and Dayton. "I was devastated by going to sleep to El Paso and waking up to Dayton," he said. "These types of moments happen far too often. In the wake of these horrific events, we immediately considered what it meant for the timing of our film. Once inaccurate assumptions about the content and intent of the movie began to take hold, I supported the decision to move the film off its release date."

　　The Hunt is produced by Blumhouse Films, who also made The Purge series, as well as movies like Get Out, Us, and Paranormal Activity. It's co-written by Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof and stars Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, and Glen Howerton. The movie's trailer was released at the start of August.

　　The movie was set for release on September 27, but it was pulled on August 11. The studio commented on the cancellation, stating: "After thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film. We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film."