Not playing soon: ‘ Dune’ delayed until October ’ 21
“Dune” is done with 2020, and the corona virus infected cinematic landscape just became even more barren.
Warner Bros. is reportedly moving Denis Villeneuve’s epic remake of Frank Herbert’s sciencefiction classic from Dec. 18 to October 2021. The decision on Monday, Oct. 5, came hours after major theater chain Cineworld Group announced it would shutter theaters in the U. K. and Ireland, and most likely its Regal Cinemas in the United States as well. It also follows the trend of other films being delayed due to the ongoing pandemic, including the James Bond film “No Time to Die,” which was postponed from November to April.
“Dune” was to be a major Christmastime showcase for Oakland native Zendaya, the actress and singer who last month became the youngest ever to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series for HBO’s “Euphoria.” The forthcoming film also stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Sharon DuncanBrewster, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling and Stellan Skarsgård.
Warner Bros. has already taken a big hit by pushing Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” into theaters at a time when many moviegoers, including in countries that have handled the global pandemic more effectively than the United States, are not ready to go back to the cinemas. Warner Bros.’ next tentpole release on the calendar is “Wonder Woman 1984,” which is slated for Christmas Day.
Moving “Dune,” then, was not a surprise. Even before the recent events within the industry, it was thought to be poor strategy to have a studio compete with itself at the box office. One of them had to move.
The only other major release remaining on the 2020 calendar is DisneyPixar’s “Soul,” currently scheduled for Nov. 20.
A spokesman for Emeryville’s Pixar said in an email to The Chronicle that “there are currently no plans to move the release date of ‘ Soul.’ ”