Warner Bros. Discovery has opted to change the release date of Dune: Part 2 as the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue through the dog days of summer.
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It looks as though Warner Bros. Discovery is the first of the major studios to blink when it comes to release dates changing due to the strikes. While Sony Pictures had already changed some dates, waiting for the major studios was a sure sign that things won’t be settled in the near future.
Dune: Part 2 will now be moving from Nov. 3, 2023 to March 15, 2024. This date was previously occupied by Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, and that film will now move back to April 12, 2024. The animated Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim has vacated that spot and will now be released on Dec. 13, 2024.
For now, Warner Bros. Discovery is saying that Wonka (Dec. 15), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Dec. 20), and The Color Purple (Dec. 25) will all keep their dates. If the strike goes on much longer, however, don’t be surprised if we see more movies beginning to move around the release calendar. While 2023 is winding down, many films of 2024 were still in production and will now miss their milestones. Studios will have to begin thinking about how to fill those empty slots.
“Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Where the first movie dealt with the first half of the novel, and the setup, the second film will feature far more action as Paul and the Fremen attempt to drive House Harkonnen from Arrakis.
Dune: Part Two is due to hit theaters on March 15, 2024.
