LOS ANGELES — In a strategic move, Disney’s 20th Century Studios has announced the rescheduling of the latest installment in the Planet of the Apes series. Originally set to release on May 24, 2024, the film will now hit theaters on May 10, 2024. This decision was made to avoid competing with other highly anticipated releases, including Furiosa and The Garfield Movie, both slated for Memorial Day weekend. The change in release date will also provide the film with more IMAX screens.
The rescheduling decision brings the new Planet of the Apes movie uncomfortably close to the premiere of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s action thriller, The Fall Guy, which is set to debut just one week earlier. Additionally, the film had initially faced a showdown with Deadpool 3, but the latter was later delayed to July 26 as part of a major Disney reshuffle.
The upcoming installment in the Planet of the Apes series, titled Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will be directed by Wes Ball and aims to establish a new trilogy set 300 years after the events of the previous film, Cesar. Meanwhile, Furiosa, a prequel and spinoff to the acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road, will feature Anya Taylor-Joy portraying a younger version of the beloved Charlize Theron character.
The rescheduling of film releases has been a common occurrence in recent weeks as studios navigate the aftermath of actors’ and writers’ strikes from the preceding year. Warner Bros. recently moved up the release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, while removing Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17 from the calendar. Sony also shifted the premiere of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire one week earlier.
The changes in release dates are part of an ongoing effort by studios to solidify their schedules for 2024. In the dynamic landscape of the film industry, strategic planning plays a crucial role in optimizing the success of each release.
In summary, the new installment in the Planet of the Apes series has been rescheduled to May 10, 2024, to avoid conflicts with other highly anticipated films. The decision will provide the movie with more IMAX screens while also bringing it in close proximity to other action-packed releases. The film, directed by Wes Ball, aims to establish a new trilogy set centuries after its predecessor. Similarly, Furiosa, a prequel and spinoff of Mad Max: Fury Road, features Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role. As studios fine-tune their schedules following recent industry disruptions, the film industry continues to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances.