25-8-2023 (CALIFORNIA) Warner Bros movie studio has announced the postponement of the highly anticipated Dune sequel, Dune: Part Two, originally slated for a November release. The decision to delay the film until March comes as top Hollywood actors have refused to promote their upcoming projects due to the ongoing strike by the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union.
The move deals a setback to cinema chains like AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, which are still grappling with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dune had been one of the most eagerly awaited films on the late 2023 movie calendar.
Dune: Part Two, featuring stars Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, is a sci-fi sequel based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, portraying an intergalactic battle for control of a valuable resource. The first installment, released in 2021 during the pandemic, grossed a staggering $402 million worldwide.
The strike by the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union began on July 14, with top actors refusing to participate in promotional activities for their films. This strike has led movie studios to adapt their release schedules in the absence of celebrity-driven marketing campaigns.
In light of these developments, Sony Pictures has adjusted its release strategy for Dumb Money, a film inspired by the GameStop stock saga. Originally set to open nationwide on September 22, the studio will now employ a staggered release approach, debuting the film on a limited number of screens in New York and Los Angeles on September 15 before expanding nationwide on October 6.
While this summer saw a boost in moviegoing thanks to the frenzy around films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, overall cinema attendance in 2023 remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Other major films slated for 2023 include Walt Disney’s The Marvels, a Lionsgate prequel to The Hunger Games, and Wonka, another Warner Bros production also starring Timothée Chalamet.
The strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which began on May 2, has disrupted the production of scripted television shows and some movie shoots.
