Warner Bros. has announced that the highly-anticipated sequel Dune: Part Two will face a delay in its release date. The decision comes amid ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). This delay is one of the biggest changes to the movie calendar as a result of these strikes.
Originally scheduled for November 3, 2023, Dune: Part Two will now hit the theaters on March 15, 2024. Additionally, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has been pushed back from March to April 2024. Warner Bros. has also postponed the release of its animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim from April to December 2024.
The strikes have put the film industry in a standstill, with no meaningful progress made in negotiations between the unions and studios. Actors are not allowed to shoot or promote any films affiliated with major studios or streaming platforms due to the strike terms. This means that stars Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet, who are part of the Dune: Part Two cast, will not be able to participate in the movie’s marketing campaign.
This strike has also impacted other films. The tennis love triangle drama Challengers, starring Zendaya, was pulled from its scheduled premiere at the Venice Film Festival and postponed to April 2024. Sony Pictures has also faced delays, pushing back the release of a Ghostbusters sequel, a comic book adaptation called Kraven the Hunter, and the animated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider Verse, the final installment of a critically acclaimed trilogy.
The strike is not only affecting film releases but has also halted countless film shoots and productions. The television industry has also been impacted, as the Emmy Awards were postponed by four months.
While the decision to delay the release of Dune: Part Two may be a strategic move by Warner Bros., aiming to avoid competing with other Oscar favorites that are traditionally released towards the end of the year, it also carries inherent risks. Releasing in March might hinder the film’s chances of gaining visibility among Academy voters.
Overall, the strikes have caused significant disruptions and uncertainties in the film industry. Writers and actors are demanding better pay, limitations on the use of artificial intelligence, and improvements to working conditions. Until an agreement is reached between the unions and studios, the release schedules of many highly-anticipated films will remain uncertain.
