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Dune Part Two release postponed to 2024 as actors strike lingers

Highly anticipated "Dune: Part Two" release delayed to March 2023 due to ongoing actors' strike, affecting film schedules.

Dune stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya

File - Timothee Chalamet, left, and Zendaya pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film “Dune,” Oct. 18, 2021, in London. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

By: AP
New York | August 25, 2023 08:50 AM IST

2 min read

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The release of Dune: Part Two, one of the fall’s most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next year, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday.

Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel had been set to open November 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, Dune: Part Two had been rumored to be eyeing a move. Variety earlier this month reported Warner Bros. was mulling the delay.

Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to the 2021 Oscar-winning Dune. Part Two stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

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Also Read | Dune Part Two trailer: Denis Villeneuve’s sequel is even more fascinating than the first film

Dune: Part Two is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to the ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers. SAG-AFTRA has asked its members not to promote studio films during the work stoppage.

Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, an MGM Studios release starring Zendaya, earlier withdrew from its Venice Film Festival opening night slot and postponed its debut to next April. Sony also pushed its next Ghostbusters film from December to next year, and removed the early 2024 release Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse from its schedule.

As part of the Dune delay, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are shifting Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire one month, to April 12. Warner Bros.’ Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will vacate that April date and move to December 2024.

Warner Bros. didn’t change its other 2023 releases, including Wonka (December 15), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (December 20) and The Color Purple (December 25).