Warner Bros movie studio has decided to postpone the anticipated “Dune” sequel’s original November release to March due to the ongoing Hollywood actors’ strike, preventing the film’s stars from promotional activities.
This move deals a setback to theatre chains like AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, striving to recover from the pandemic’s impact. “Dune,” a highlight of the late 2023 lineup, is affected by this decision.
The sequel, “Dune: Part Two,” featuring Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, will now premiere on March 15, displacing Warner Bros’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” which is rescheduled for April 12.
Consequently, an animated “Lord of the Rings” film initially slated for April has been shifted to December.
The sci-fi follow-up, based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, portrays an intergalactic conflict over a valuable resource. The first instalment, released in 2021 amidst the pandemic, garnered $402 million worldwide.
High-profile actors are refraining from promoting their upcoming projects due to the SAG-AFTRA actors union’s participation in the Hollywood writers’ strike since July 14.
This strike has prompted studios to adjust release schedules, lacking celebrities for red carpets and talk shows that contribute to generating excitement.
Sony Pictures also adapted its strategy for “Dumb Money,” a film inspired by the GameStop stock situation, initially slated for a nationwide release on September 22.
The studio now opts for a gradual release approach, beginning with limited screenings in New York and Los Angeles on September 15, followed by a nationwide expansion on October 6.
Despite the mid-year surge from the “Barbenheimer” frenzy around “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” this year’s overall movie attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Additional major films for 2023 include Walt Disney’s “The Marvels,” a Lionsgate prequel to “The Hunger Games,” and “Wonka,” another Warner Bros production featuring Chalamet.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, initiated on May 2, continues to disrupt scripted TV shows’ production and certain movie shoots.
