The sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic “Dune” might be delayed to 2024, this according to Variety.
Warner Bros. “is strongly considering” pushing the Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya epic to next year from its current November 3rd slot, according to “three individuals with knowledge of discussions.”
Additionally, Warner Bros. might also move two December releases to 2024. “The Color Purple,” and “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom.” Of course, all of this reshuffling has to do with the SAG-AFTRA strike, which doesn’t look like it’s going to come to an end any time soon.
It does make sense for a film like “Dune 2” to delay its release until next year, it was banking on heavy promotion from its starry cast, which includes the likes of Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin.
Villeneuve’s first ‘Dune’ film already had to deal with the limitations of the pandemic in 2021, but still managed to become a commercial success. However, with no actors left to promote the film, the SAG strike seems to be an even bigger obstacle for the sequel.
Doesn’t this feel like 2020 all over again? Which films are the next ones to be delayed? We’re nearing August and the big titles coming out in September are “Challengers,” “Poor Things,” “The Equalizer 3” and “A Haunting in Venice.”
As much as CEO Cameron Bailey keeps insisting that the Toronto Film Festival will be business as usual this coming September, I don’t think that fest can escape the fact that a lot of studios will refuse to send their films there without the star power. The same can be said about Venice.