Sundance has removed “Twinless”, a highly anticipated drama about twin brothers, from its online streaming site due to piracy concerns. The move comes after the film’s trailer leaked on social media platforms.
The movie, starring Dylan O’Brien as twin brothers Rocky and Roman, tells the story of their journey after one of them dies tragically. It was part of Sundance’s opening day films and received positive reviews from critics, with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score among critics.
Sundance requires movies in competition to be on its online portal, but the festival has now removed “Twinless” due to copyright infringement. The film won several awards, including the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic and a Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting for O’Brien.
The decision was made in partnership with the filmmakers after the film’s trailer leaked on social media platforms. Sundance states that it takes copyright infringement seriously and will cooperate with law enforcement to address piracy-related issues.
In response to the removal, some viewers expressed frustration, but others defended the festival’s stance, citing its commitment to protecting independent filmmakers’ work. The decision has sparked debate about the role of streaming services in promoting original content.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/sundance-twinless-dylan-obrien-piracy-1236275132