In a significant schedule change to the November box office calendar, the release of Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated film “Dune: Part Two” has been postponed to the following year due to the ongoing actors’ strike. This strike has prevented stars from promoting their projects, leading to the decision to delay its release. Previously, the movie was set to open on November 3 in North America alongside its global rollout, but it will now debut domestically on March 15, 2024. As a result, the release of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” has also been pushed back by one month to April 12, 2024, taking over the previous March 15 date initially assigned to “Dune.”
Moreover, the schedule reshuffling resulted in the relocation of New Line and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s film “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” from April 12, 2024, to December 13, 2024. The “Lord of the Rings” franchise had established a tradition of releasing its live-action tentpoles in December. These changes reflect the impact of the ongoing actors’ strike on the 2023 theatrical release calendar, with “Dune: Part Two” becoming the most significant casualty. While this news may not be ideal for theater owners, it could have been worse. Warner Bros. has decided to keep its three big December releases, namely “Wonka” on December 15, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on December 20, and “The Color Purple” on December 25, on the calendar. This decision demonstrates the studio’s commitment to theatrical releases despite the uncertainty caused by the dual Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes.
The delay of “Dune: Part Two” presents challenges in terms of its box office potential and the execution of a global publicity campaign featuring its star-studded cast, including Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. Legendary, the production company behind the high-profile sequel, made this decision hand in hand with Warner Bros., its distribution partner. Additionally, an awards campaign for the film would also face difficulties due to the delayed release. The sequel has welcomed newcomers such as Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux, while returning cast members include Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, and Charlotte Rampling.
Insiders reveal that Legendary couldn’t wait any longer before deciding to postpone the release, considering Warner Bros.’s need to begin marketing “Dune: Part Two” fully by early September. However, there is hope that the additional time will allow the cast to participate in the worldwide marketing push as originally intended. The film’s new release date will also be accompanied by a full-fledged Imax release. March is a favorable window to launch event films due to the presence of spring break and the subsequent Easter holidays.
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Regarding its predecessor, released in 2021, Villeneuve’s “Dune” achieved solid box office success, grossing over $402 million worldwide despite the pandemic and its simultaneous release on HBO Max. The sequel aspires to be an even greater draw for various reasons. Villeneuve explained at CinemaCon in April that while “Part One” is contemplative, “Part Two” is an action-packed and epic war movie. It delves into new territories, featuring all-new sets and locations, to avoid any feeling of repetition.
In conclusion, the delay of “Dune: Part Two” to 2024 due to the ongoing actors’ strike has caused a cascading effect on the November box office calendar. The decision was made to ensure the film’s full potential in terms of box office returns and global publicity. Despite the challenges posed by the strike, Warner Bros. remains committed to theatrical releases, as demonstrated by the retention of its major December movies. The extra time before the release of “Dune: Part Two” is expected to allow for a comprehensive marketing campaign, while the film’s new release date will be accompanied by an Imax release. Fans can look forward to a more action-packed and visually immersive experience in the sequel, which aims to surpass the success of its predecessor.
