Today, The Stranger was informed that management at Belltown's Big Picture movie theater might be taking over management of the Varsity movie theater in the University District when Landmark Theatres ceases to manage the Varsity next month. All week, we've been hearing rumors of various film organizations and Seattle-area bookers being contacted by Landmark about taking over one or both of the venues, but this Big Picture rumor seemed a little bit more substantial.

I contacted Big Picture about the rumors and spoke to an employee who asked to not be identified. "I can tell you that they’ve approached us but I’m not going to comment any further," the employee said, adding (in a tone I interpreted as somewhat coy) that it would be "interesting" if those rumors turned out to be true. I contacted Landmark publicity to confirm or deny that they've been in contact with the Big Picture, and they declined to comment, instead referring me back to the statement they sent me on Tuesday.

Buzz in Seattle's film world indicates that an announcement about the future of the Varsity could come as soon as next week. The future of the other movie theater affected by Landmark's announcement, Capitol Hill's Harvard Exit, is more in doubt. Yesterday, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog reported that developer Scott Shapiro purchased the Harvard Exit, and speculated that the plans for the Exit "indicate changes for the building’s current use as a theater." Shapiro had no comment.