'Dune: Part Two' delayed to March 2024 amid ongoing strikes
The production of Dune: Part Two has been affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the United States, causing the production studios behind it to move its release date.
On August 24, Warner Bros. announced the change of release date for the highly anticipated sequel to its 2021 film Dune from November 3, 2023, to March 15, 2024.
In 2021, Dune was released simultaneously in the theaters, and HBO Max to a critical success. The movie grossed more than $400 million at the worldwide box office despite the paralyzing effect of the pandemic on the cinema industry. It also won six awards at the 94th Academy Awards.
Starring alongside Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet are then-breakout stars Florence Pugh and Austin Butler. Other celebrities, including Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem, are expected to reprise their roles.
Along with Dune 2, Warner Bros. also moved the schedule of their future releases, including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire from March 15, 2024, to April 12, 2024, and the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim from April 12, 2024, to Dec. 14, 2024. The premiere of Zendaya’s other upcoming film, Challengers, has also been rescheduled to April 26, 2024.
Several productions have already shut down following the WGA strike, whereas SAG-AFTRA forbids its members to participate in any press junket that promotes affected films.
Sony has also recently delayed their movies caused by the strikes. Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel and Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter has been moved to a 2024 release, while Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse—which was set for a March 29, 2024 premiere—is also getting a new release date that Sony has yet to announce.