Cineplex announced Monday that it plans to reopen six theatres in Alberta on June 26, followed by as many other locations across Canada as it can in early July.
"In all markets where Cineplex is permitted by government and health authorities, it plans to reopen as many of its locations as it can on July 3, 2020 (or as soon thereafter as permitted by law)," Canada's largest movie exhibitor said in a news release Monday.
"Cineplex has carefully reexamined all of its buildings and processes, so that when its theatres and entertainment venues reopen, it will have implemented an industry-leading program with end-to-end health and safety protocols," the release said.
"At Cineplex’s theatres specifically, it will also be launching reserved seating in all auditoriums across the country to ensure proper physical distancing between its guests."
The theatre chain closed its 165 theatres and 1,700 screens Canada-wide in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily laid off or imposed pay cuts on employees.
Cineplex operates in 22 locations in Atlantic Canada.
On Friday, Britain's Cineworld Group Plc announced it was abandoning its $1.65-billion deal to buy Cineplex, citing what it termed the Canadian company's breaches in the merger agreement between the cinema operators.
"As a consequence of ... Cineplex's unwillingness to cure the breaches, Cineworld has notified Cineplex that it has terminated the Arrangement Agreement with immediate effect," Cineworld said in a statement.
Cineworld did not specify what the breaches were, adding that a "material adverse effect" occurred with the Canadian company.
Cineplex issued a separate statement denying the claims of Cineworld and saying that Cineworld's allegations stem from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Cineplex in turn accused its British rival of avoiding its obligations under the merger agreement in light of the pandemic.
With files from Reuters