The Batman starring Robert Pattinson pushed back to 2022 as Warner Bros. gives fall 2021 slot to sci-fi remake Dune
Hollywood studios are shaking up their release schedules again as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and movie theaters close.
On Monday night, Warner Bros. announced that its highly anticipated film The Batman starring Robert Pattinson won’t now make an appearance until 2022.
The Batman had been scheduled to premiere on October 1, 2021, but has now been put back until March 2, 2022.
Delayed: Warner Bros. announced Monday that it is pushing back The Batman starring Robert Pattinson from October 1, 2021 to March 2, 2022
Production on the comic book franchise reboot directed by Matt Reeves was halted in March due to the coronavirus and then, having resumed, was shut down again in early September after Pattinson reportedly tested positive for the virus.
Warner Bros’ cited the production delays as the reason for the changes, Variety reported.
Warner Bros. has also delayed the releases of several other movies including The Flash and Shazam 2.
The studio is now moving the Denis Villeneuve remake of sci-fi classic Dune starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya to October 1, 2021, to fill the slot left vacant by The Batman.
It is also moving up the release of Matrix 4, starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, from April 2022 to December 22, 2021.
Pushed back: Production on the comic book franchise reboot directed by Matt Reeves and co-starring Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright and Paul Dano, was halted in March due to the coronavirus
Complicated: Production resumed in the UK in late summer but was shut down again in early September after Pattinson (pictured as Bruce Wayne) reportedly tested positive for the virus
Shuffle: The studio is now moving the Denis Villeneuve remake of sci-fi classic Dune starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya to October 1, 2021, to fill the slot left vacant by The Batman
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures announced Monday that the Milla Jovovich fantasy thriller Monster Hunter is being moved forward four months from April 23, 2021, to this December 30.
The film is written and directed by Jovovich’s husband Paul W. S. Anderson and is loosely based on the Capcom video game series of the same name.
Not helping studio release schedules is the decision announced Monday that Regal Cinemas in North America and Cineworld in the UK are shuttering theatres due to the pandemic.
Cineworld chiefs blamed the decision to shut down venues on the postponement of big budget films, specifically the James Bond movie No Time To Die which had been expected to bow in November and is now slated for an April opening.
It follows the lacklustre performance at the US box office by Christopher Nolan’s tentpole Tenet which struggled as many screens, especially in New York and Los Angeles remain closed.
Coming soon: Sony Pictures announced Monday that the Milla Jovovich fantasy thriller Monster Hunter is being moved forward four months from April 23, 2021, to this December 30