When Dune premiered in theaters two years ago, viewers left with two feelings: happiness and impatience. The first was due to the fact that the movie was brilliant and was greatly enjoyed. The second was because there would be a second part… at some point.
Well then, in case two years seemed short to us, Warner Bros. has just made the difficult decision to delay director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 2 until next year, when it will finally hit theaters on March 15, 2024.
We had all been led to believe that the studio would stick to the original release date for Dune 2, which was originally set to release on November 3, 2023. However, now that the WGA and Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strikes persist and no compromise solutions appear to be proposed, Warner Bros. It has aborted that plan and is now betting on early 2024.
A delay that has only one justification: the premiere campaign
Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. Film Group agreed that it was a wise decision, especially due to the fact that the science fiction sequel would not have its stars (Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, etc.) for press events during the strike.
According to the union’s rules, its members cannot mention, discuss, or promote any film project they are involved in while engaged in a labor dispute that leads to an official strike.
Studios rely on this crucial arm of their marketing machinery to generate anticipation for their releases. Since the inception of the industry, actors have campaigned for their films.
With a budget of $122 million at stake, in addition to ongoing costs of advertising in press, television, and the internet, Warner Bros. cannot afford for its stellar cast and writers to not be interviewed in global press conferences.
What is “Dune: Part 2” about?
“This continuation of the film will explore the mythical journey of Paul Atreides as he joins Chani and the Fremen on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Faced with the choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he strives to avert a terrible future that only he can foresee,” explains the official website of the movie.
So, if you want to see Dune 2 in theaters, you’ll have to wait until March 15, 2024. Until then, there’s nothing else to do but rewatch the first movie on HBO Max in glorious 4K and awe-inspiring Dolby Atmos sound.”
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