Warner Bros delays 'Dune' sequel, 'Lord of the Rings' movie

Cineplex

24/08/2023 23:00

By Lisa Richwine
       LOS ANGELES, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The Warner Bros  WBD.O 
movie studio will delay the planned November release of a
big-budget "Dune" sequel until March, a studio spokesperson said
on Thursday, because its stars cannot promote the movie during
the Hollywood actors' strike.
    The move deals a blow to cinema chains such as AMC
Entertainment  AMC.N , Cineplex  CGX.TO  and others still trying
to recover from the COVID pandemic. "Dune" was one of the most
anticipated films on the late 2023 schedule.
    The shift of "Dune: Part Two" prompted Warner Bros to delay
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" by one month until April. An
animated "Lord of the Rings" film will be pushed from April
until December.
    "Dune: Part Two" stars Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet in a
sci-fi sequel based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel about an
intergalactic battle to control a precious resource.    
    The SAG-AFTRA actors union has been on strike since July 14,
and top stars are refusing to promote upcoming films and TV
shows during the work stoppage.   
    
    

 (Reporting by Lisa Richwine
Editing by Chris Reese)
 ((lisa.richwine@thomsonreuters.com; Follow me on Twitter
@LARichwine; 1-424-434-7324; Reuters Messaging:
lisa.richwine.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))