![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://beijingtimes.com/culture/filmandtv/2023/08/26/actors-strike-causes-rescheduling-of-dune-part-two/&media=https://beijingtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/617178ac33f4b300189adee3.webp&description=The ongoing Hollywood actors' strike has forced Warner Bros to postpone the release of "Dune: Part Two" from November to March, affecting the schedules of other films and posing challenges for cinema chains recovering from the pandemic.){kind=link}
Warner Bros has decided to delay the November release of the much-anticipated sequel, “Dune: Part Two,” until March, due to the ongoing Hollywood actors’ strike, which has rendered the film’s stars unable to participate in promotional activities. This move is a setback for cinema chains like AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, which are already struggling to recuperate from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally scheduled for a late 2023 release, “Dune: Part Two” was among the most awaited films of the year. It will now premiere on March 15, a date initially earmarked for another Warner Bros film, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Consequently, this monster film has been moved to April 12, causing an animated “Lord of the Rings” film, originally slated for April, to be postponed until December.
“Dune: Part Two” features Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet and is a sci-fi sequel inspired by Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, which centers on an interstellar struggle for control over a valuable resource. The first part, released in 2021 amidst the pandemic, amassed $402 million at the worldwide box office. The current actors’ strike has compelled several studios to revise film schedules, as the absence of celebrities at red carpet events and talk shows hampers buzz-building efforts.
Sony Pictures also modified the release plan for “Dumb Money,” a film based on the real-life story of ordinary investors who outsmarted Wall Street professionals and profited from GameStop stock. Initially set to open nationwide on September 22, the studio opted for a more phased release strategy to stimulate interest through audience reactions. The film will now premiere on a limited number of screens in New York and Los Angeles on September 15 before broadening its reach nationwide on October 6.
Despite a significant boost this summer from the “Barbenheimer” craze surrounding the films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” overall cinema attendance this year continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.
Other prominent films currently scheduled for 2023 include Walt Disney’s “The Marvels,” a Lionsgate prequel to “The Hunger Games,” and “Wonka,” another Warner Bros production featuring Chalamet.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which commenced on May 2, has halted most scripted television productions and some film shoots. This labor action underscores the challenges faced by the entertainment industry, which is still grappling with the repercussions of the pandemic.
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