Warner Bros. has confirmed that the release of the highly anticipated film “Dune: Part Two” has been postponed from November of this year to March of next year. The decision comes amidst the ongoing actors’ strike, which has entered its second month. The studio wants to ensure that the star-studded cast, including Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, can properly promote the sequel to the 2021 Oscar-winning “Dune.” This delay is part of a trend in the film industry, with other movies like “Challengers” and “Ghostbusters” also postponing their releases.
The delay of “Dune: Part Two” is one of the many films affected by the strikes initiated by actors and screenwriters. Despite lacking the presence of their stars at events like red carpets and magazine covers, most recent releases have chosen to move forward. However, SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, has advised its members not to promote studio films during the strike. In addition to “Dune: Part Two,” other movies like “Challengers” and “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” have also been postponed to next year.
As a result of the “Dune” delay, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have decided to shift the release date of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” to April 2024. The planned release of “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” in April 2024 will be pushed back to December of the same year. However, Warner Bros. has not changed the release dates of its other highly anticipated films for 2023, including “Wonka,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” and “The Color Purple,” which are set to premiere in December.