Strike delays more big film releases; which ones have been marked for movement!?

With MGM opting to delay Challengers, starring Zendaya, from September 15 to late April 2024, and  Searchlight’s Emma Stone-Yorgos Lanthimos pic Poor Things pushed from September 8 to December 8, as a result of the ongoing writers and actor’s strike, more and more studios are likely to follow the lead on press pause on releasing their bigger releases until actors and writers are available for interviews and red carpet appearances.

There has been a lot of talk that Warner Bros will delay several of their big tentpoles, beginning with Dune : Chapter 2, which was due to roll out November 3.

Deadline has confirmed that there’s still no decision made on that, with Warner and partnert Legendary in “in wait-and-see mode and has until September before Dune 2‘s next leg of marketing has to go.”

If it does move, “Warners already has the following dates on hold in regards to where Dune: Part Two could go: March 15, where Legendary has its next Godzilla/King Kong movie; April 19, which they have on reserve for an event title; or June 21, an untitled open slot for the Burbank lot.|

As for those other rumored WB-flick delays?

“What about Wonka (December 15), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 20) and The Color Purple (Christmas Day) moving to 2024? Still way too soon to call. but if these tentpoles are vulnerable to changes, so are others.”

Meantime, Ethan Coen comedy Drive-Away Dolls is eyeing a move off its September 22 release date,and there’s scuttlebut that Sony will move December’s Ghostbusters : Firehouse to Summer 2024.

There’s also been talk that Disney may push a few of its upcoming releases, including December release Wish, to a few months.

Attesting to the fact that studios are definitely considering these actions, theater chains are starting to advertise the return of several classics to the multiplex this summer and fall including The Fugitive, Frozen, Risky Business, They Live and School of Rock.