The speculation has been rampant for weeks, and now it’s official: Wonder Woman 1984 is moving off of its release date and into the holidays. The anticipated superhero sequel will arrive on Christmas Day, after its previous release date of October 2nd. What’s interesting about this is what Warner Bros. has chosen what not to do about their other big 2020 blockbuster: Dune.
It was only a couple of days ago we learned that Warner Bros. was eyeing moves for both Wonder Woman 1984 and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune remake, in order to clear room for Tenet‘s box office. We expected a major shuffling of the decks for both films if that were to happen, but that won’t be the case.
Instead, Dune will maintain its December 18th date, meaning it will open just a week before Wonder Woman 1984. That’s an odd release strategy that guarantees both films will compete against one another. Clearly, the studio believes there is room enough in the market for two blockbusters in the same month. Or, at least they believe there will be by the time December arrives. With Los Angeles and New York markets expected to fully reopen soon, perhaps they are right. But it’s also clear that they rushed Tenet into theaters before the marketplace was ready.
Director Patty Jenkins said of the move: “First and foremost let me say how much Gal and I love all our devoted Wonder Woman fans around the world, and your excitement for Wonder Woman 1984 couldn’t make us happier or more eager for you to see the movie. Because I know how important it is to bring this movie to you on a big screen when all of us can share the experience together, I’m hopeful you won’t mind waiting just a little bit longer. With the new date on Christmas Day, we can’t wait to spend the holidays with you!”
