AQUAMAN & THE LOST KINGDOM And DUNE: PART 2 May Be Pushed To 2024 Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike

AQUAMAN & THE LOST KINGDOM And DUNE: PART 2 May Be Pushed To 2024 Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike

We had a feeling this could happen after the SAG-AFTRA strike got underway, and it's now been confirmed that Warner Bros. is strongly considering pushing two of this year's biggest releases into 2024...

By MarkCassidy - Jul 20, 2023 09:07 PM EST

Following today's report about James Wan's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom undergoing a third round of reshoots, we're hearing that Warner Bros. Discovery may ultimately decide to push the DC Comics sequel back to next year - along with several other upcoming movies.

According to Variety, the studio is considering delaying the release of the Aquaman sequel, Dune: Part 2, and The Color Purple to 2024. Nothing has been confirmed, however, and it's worth noting that said that "releases are moving forward as originally planned and no formal discussions have been had, but the duration of the union battles are completely unpredictable."

Given the behind-the-scenes turmoil afflicting Aquaman 2 (we've heard it's... not great), a delay was probably inevitable, but Denis Villeneuve's Dune sequel being (potentially) pushed back is a little more surprising, and will likely result in a lot more disappointment.

These major tentpoles benefit greatly from their starry casts hyping them up, and with actors unable to do any promotion due to the strike, WB is understandably apprehensive about releasing them without the maximum amount of fanfare.

This may not be the last of the delays, either.

The trade also mentions that The Marvels, Napoleon, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes could also be impacted by the strikes, and may be pushed back.

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DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 7/20/2023, 9:40 PM
I would expect a shuffle of at least Aquaman, The Color Purple, and Wonka, seeing as how they're all December releases and will cannibalize each other.

Wonka seems great for holidays, whereas The Color Purple is a potential oscar contender. I can see them sacrificing Color Purple for Wonka, but with the year WB is having...
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 7/20/2023, 9:45 PM
@DannRamm113 - They would rather sacrifice a potential Oscar contender movie for an origin movie of a quirky chocolate maker? O_o
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 7/20/2023, 9:53 PM
@NinnesMBC - Oscar nominated movies can fail all the time financially and still go on to win awards and prestige for the studio. Tar and The Fablemens just recently being examples

Wonka just has more cross appeal i think
narrow290
narrow290 - 7/20/2023, 9:42 PM
God please, not Dune
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 7/20/2023, 9:46 PM
Maybe they're considering moving Aquaman after seeing the projected box office tracking for Blue Beetle's opening weekend?

Or did they just realize now that they really did have like 3 movies opening in the same month and that it was gonna backfire on them?
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 7/20/2023, 11:08 PM
@NinnesMBC - so we are gonna have no break between Gunn's universe and the DCEU. Gunn is in trouble 😑
TempleRod
TempleRod - 7/21/2023, 5:13 AM
@AmazingFILMporg - OH OF COURSE.
Always making up the most ridiculous reasons to throw shade on Gunn.

LOL. You're really something.
EZBeast
EZBeast - 7/20/2023, 9:49 PM
Seeing as wb has released a ton of awful comicbook films this year so maybe aquaman 2 being pushed back isn’t the worst idea.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/20/2023, 9:57 PM
Just cancel Aquaman.

We NEED Dune
incredibleTalk
incredibleTalk - 7/20/2023, 10:04 PM
Don't know if I want to see Aquaman 1984!!!!
Forthas
Forthas - 7/20/2023, 10:05 PM
The only reason that I am not that upset about Dune is because I don't want Chritopher Nolan to compete with Denis Villenueve for an Oscar!
dracula
dracula - 7/20/2023, 10:22 PM
Guessing this would be to put off putting money into actors and writers pocked from what is made off the movies
philinterrupted
philinterrupted - 7/20/2023, 10:30 PM
"releases are moving forward as originally planned and no formal discussions have been had, but the duration of the union battles are completely unpredictable."

So nobody has said things were being pushed, we’re just making shit up again?
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 7/20/2023, 10:41 PM
@philinterrupted - I mean, he did say "may be."
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/20/2023, 10:33 PM
I know Aquaman (somehow) was a big hit, but I don't see this one doing even half of what the 1st one did with the state of the DC/WB whateververse.
WB needs to close the book on this lousy cinematic universe for good and TOTALLY reboot.

Off topic: The topic of using dead actor's likenesses comes up again.
https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/flash/smallville-actor-gives-honest-take-on-christopher-reeves-superman-likeness-being-used-for-the-flash#:~:text=Actor%20John%20Glover%2C%20who%20played,to%20Smallville%20as%20dr%20swan.
dracula
dracula - 7/20/2023, 11:29 PM
@Feralwookiee - eh id say it depends on the situation.

Small voiceless cameos seem fine assuming its a role they previously played (and descendants are compensated) its fine

If you are using their likeness in a project they have no connection and are trying to create a performance using their image that is going way too far. Cast new actors

There are few exceptions like in Superman Returns where they did use footage of Marlon Brando from Superman and Donner’s Superman 2. That was done very well

But yeaj stuff like Peter Cushing in Rogue One was ridiculous
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/20/2023, 11:41 PM
@dracula - I'm pretty much against it.
This nonsense that the family or the estate has the say in it is garbage imo. You can say "he would've wanted it this way" all you want, but unless the actor signed something in writing before their death, that's a no go for me.
The dead can't consent.
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