Warner Bros. and Legendary have delayed Denis Villeneuve's Dune again, with the movie now receiving a late October release date. Villeneuve has turned his attention towards sci-fi in recent years with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, and his next project is an adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel. Dune stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac as his parents, and Zendaya as his love interest Chani.
Ever since it was announced that Villeneuve would tackle a new Dune movie after David Lynch's take in 1984, it has been one of the most anticipated upcoming films for many. Unfortunately, the wait to see Dune has been much longer than expected. The movie was delayed due to COVID-19 after Warner Bros. and Legendary gave it a prime Christmas 2020 release window. This pushed Dune to October 2021, and now the movie is on the move again.
Warner Bros. has officially announced that Dune has been delayed three weeks. It was scheduled to arrive in theaters and on HBO Max on October 1, 2021. The new release date for Dune is October 22, 2021. The movie will be released in IMAX and 3D for its theatrical run. Those who don't want to travel to theaters to see the film in these formats will still be able to stream it on HBO Max for no additional charge to subscribers.
The most recent Dune delay is quite interesting considering the competition it is facing. The last release date would've put the movie up against Hotel Transylvania: Transformania and The Addams Family 2, two family-friendly animated films. Dune could've been good counter-programming for adults and sci-fi fans, with Venom: Let There Be Carnage's second weekend adding more competition. This new date pits Dune against Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, which also stars Chalamet.
Now that WB and Legendary delayed Dune again, many will be hoping that this is the last time the movie's release date changes. Anticipation remains incredibly high for the sci-fi epic and the possibility of it launching a franchise. The big question facing Dune is whether or not it will capture the attention of general audiences. It certainly has the star power to do so, and Villeneuve's track record speaks for itself. But, it was only a few years ago that Blade Runner 2049 was praised by critics but still underachieved at the box office due to its massive budget. Hopefully a similar fate doesn't await Dune, as long as the movie delivers on its incredible potential.
Source: Warner Bros.
