In the midst of ongoing industry strikes, the release of the much-anticipated sequel, ‘Dune: Part Two,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve and based on Frank Herbert’s novel, is being moved from its initial November 3 premiere to March 15, 2024.
This change is prompted by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The sequel will also be screened in IMAX format on its newly scheduled date. There’s speculation that ‘Dune: Part Two’ might debut at either the Berlin Film Festival or SXSW in the late winter or early spring.
Major Holiday Films Hold Ground Despite Strikes
In contrast, despite speculations about Warner Bros making further changes to their December release schedule due to the strike, the release dates of their major holiday films remain unaffected.
‘Wonka’ is set for December 15, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ from the DC universe is due on December 20, and ‘The Color Purple’ will still hit theaters on December 25. Despite concerns, Warner Bros intends to stick to these dates, emphasizing their importance after the pandemic-induced closures in 2020-2021.
Notably, ‘Dune: Part Two’ is taking the spot previously reserved for Legendary’s ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire,’ which will now release on April 12 next year. Another film affected by this rescheduling is New Line’s animated feature, ‘Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim,’ which is now shifted to December 13, 2024. However, ‘Godzilla X Kong’ remains uncontested by major competitors on its new date, while ‘Dune: Part Two’ also faces no direct opposition on its new March release date.
The delay of ‘Dune: Part Two‘ was somewhat expected due to the circumstances. The first ‘Dune’ film gained recognition with six Oscars and earned substantial revenue of $402 million worldwide.
Yet, its box office performance was somewhat hindered by its simultaneous release on Warner’s streaming service, HBO Max. This time, both Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros are united in their release strategy for the sequel.
The potential of ‘Dune: Part Two’ to become a new franchise for both Legendary and Warner Bros is significant. The movie’s young cast, featuring Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, Florence Pugh, and Austin Butler, boasts a combined following of over 258 million across social media platforms.
Zendaya alone commands 71% of these followers on Instagram. Her involvement in the ongoing Actors Strike led to the postponement of her movie ‘Challengers,’ causing it to skip its Venice Film Festival premiere and move to an April 2024 release.
Implications for the 2024 Theatrical Release Calendar
Considering the ongoing strikes’ impact on the 2024 theatrical release calendar, ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Godzilla X Kong’ offer some reassurance to the industry. They provide a safety net for theaters, ensuring that the post-pandemic resurgence of moviegoing, spurred by films like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ in 2023, will continue into the following year.
Notably, ‘Dune: Part Two’ will debut during the Spring Break period, just ahead of the Easter holiday frame from March 29 to 31. The film’s narrative delves into the epic journey of Paul Atreides (Chalamet) as he teams up with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen, seeking revenge against those who destroyed his family. The story revolves around his choice between love and the destiny of the universe, as he strives to prevent a dire future only he envisions.
As ‘Dune: Part Two’ moves to 2024, questions arise about the shifts in the movie landscape. Speculation emerges about Disney/Marvel Studios’ sequel ‘The Marvels,’ slated for November 10, possibly being moved up to November 3 to capitalize on the available IMAX screens left vacant by ‘Dune: Part Two.’ Such a change could also grant ‘The Marvels’ a longer tenure on large-format screens before ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ arrives on November 17.
The fate of ‘The Marvels’ release date seems secure, according to insiders. Additionally, the new release date for ‘Godzilla X Kong’ provides a favorable window for its release in China, a market where previous Legendary Monsterverse films have found significant success.
Despite ‘Dune: Part Two’s’ shift, IMAX still anticipates strong earnings from various tentpole films throughout 2023. These include ‘The Equalizer 3,’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ ‘The Marvels,’ ‘The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,’ ‘Wonka,’ ‘Aquaman 2,’ and more ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ screenings in the near future.
