I think MalcolmChurch posted in good faith and I've certainly seen evidence of people measuring up the building for possible uses. I think it is very likely that somebody was looking at alternative uses for the building.
Councillor Upex's message from the head of planning is very clear and I know that the head of planning checked both with his department and with English Heritage to ask if any discussions had taken place - and none had.
So IF a cinema chain was interested in taking over the Capitol, I can only conclude that they are either progressing very slowly and cautiously, or their internal architects have told them that they have no chance of such a conversion being acceptable (before approaching EH or Lewisham), or that with the new cinema in East Dulwich the commercial realities have changed in the last year.
I haven't completely given up hope of a cinema, but I'm pleased that Weatherspoons are staying and not leaving us with a massive empty unit on the high street (as happened when the bingo hall closed).
But perhaps we aren't being ambitious enough in our thinking. Perhaps this should be a new music venue, like the Brixton Academy, or a local theatre and occasional film venue (like the Deptford Albany).