[1/2]Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya attend a Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Theater Owners Association, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on April 25, 2023, promoting „Toon: Part Two.” REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File photo Get license rights
LOS ANGELES, Aug 24 (Reuters) – Warner Bros ( WBD.O ) movie studio will delay the big-budget “Doon” sequel scheduled for release in November until March because its stars cannot promote it, a studio spokesman said on Thursday. The film was taken during the Hollywood actors’ strike.
The decision is a blow to cinema chains such as AMC Entertainment ( AMC.N ), Cineplex ( CGX.TO ) and Cinemark ( CNK.N ), which are still trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. „Toon” is one of the most anticipated films in the 2023 schedule.
„Toon: Part Two,” which was earmarked for Warner Bros.’ „Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” will now debut on March 15. Asuraan film has been shifted to April 12.
As a result, the animated „Lord of the Rings” film, which was set for April, was moved to December.
„Dune: Part Two” is a sci-fi sequel based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel that stars Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet in an intergalactic battle for control of a precious resource. The first installment, which was released in 2021 during Pandemic, grossed $402 million at the global box office.
Leading stars have refused to promote upcoming projects since the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union walked off the job July 14 along with striking Hollywood writers.
The actors’ strike prompted other film studios to reschedule the film in the absence of celebrities.
Sony Pictures ( 6758.T ) changed its “dump money” release strategy, a film inspired by the story of everyday investors who outsmarted Wall Street investors and got rich on shares of video game and electronics retailer GameStop ( GME.N ).
The film was originally slated to open nationwide on September 22, however the studio adopted a more gradual release strategy to build interest from audience reactions. The film will now open in a limited number of screens in New York and Los Angeles on September 15 before expanding nationwide on October 6.
Despite a big boost this summer from the „Oppenheimer” frenzy surrounding the films „Barbie” and „Oppenheimer,” overall film this year has remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Other major films currently on the 2023 schedule include Walt Disney’s ( DIS.N ) „The Marvels,” Lionsgate’s ( LGFa.N ) „The Hunger Games” and another Warner Bros. film, „Wonga.” Chalamet.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike began on May 2, halting most production of scripted television shows and some film shoots.
Reporting by Lisa Rich in Los Angeles Editing by Chris Reese and Matthew Lewis
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