NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The release of one of the fall's most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next year, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday.
Denis Villeneuve's science-fiction sequel had been set to open Nov. 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, 鈥淒une: Part Two鈥� had been rumored to be eyeing a move. Variety Warner Bros. was mulling the delay.
Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to 鈥淧art Two鈥� stars Timoth茅e Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsg氓rd, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and L茅a Seydoux.
鈥淒une: Part Two鈥� is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to . Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers. SAG-AFTRA has asked its members not to promote studio films during the work stoppage.
Luca Guadagnino's 鈥淐hallengers," an MGM Studios release starring Zendaya, earlier and postponed its debut to next April. Sony also pushed its next 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� film from December to next year, and removed the early 2024 release 鈥淪pider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse鈥� from its schedule.
As part of the 鈥淒une鈥� delay, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are shifting 鈥淕odzilla x Kong: The New Empire鈥� one month, to April 12. Warner Bros.' 鈥淟ord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim鈥� will vacate that April date and move to December 2024.
Warner Bros. didn't change its other 2023 releases, including 鈥淲onka鈥� (Dec. 15), 鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom鈥� (Dec. 20) and 鈥淭he Color Purple鈥� (Dec. 25).
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
