The film and TV delay announcements just keep rolling in – and this time, it’s upcoming DC Extended Universe entry Wonder Woman 1984 taking the hit. Originally announced for release on October 2, 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 will now be releasing on Christmas Day, December 25. Its release will include both standard cinema and IMAX showings.
Spokespeople for distributor Warner Brothers indicated that the delay was not entirely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the feeling that the film was “big enough” to carry the holiday season. Warner Bros. believes that this release date will lead to greater success and higher box office totals for the Gal Gadot-helmed superhero flick.
The new release date may put Wonder Woman 1984 in conflict with fellow Warner Brothers film Dune. The adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel will debut in cinemas on December 18, only a week before the Amazonian superhero takes to the screen. It is not yet known whether one of these films will suffer due to this decision, but Warner Bros. remains confident that the lower number of films released this year will allow both pictures to succeed.
Wonder Woman 1984 is described as both a sequel and prequel to the 2017 film Wonder Woman, featuring the titular heroine’s adventures during the Cold War Era. Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman (Gadot) will come into conflict with ambitious entrepreneur Maxwell Lord (Game of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal) and archaeologist Barbara Ann Minerva (former Saturday Night Live cast member Kristen Wiig) who will ultimately take on the role of the villainous Cheetah. Returning cast members from the first film will include Chris Pine (the rebooted Star Trek films) as Diana’s love interest Steve Trevor and Connie Nielsen (Boss) as the heroine’s mother Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.
Warner Bros. has remained at the forefront of the movement to re-open Hollywood, releasing Christopher Nolan’s Tenet in theaters following three delays. It remains to be seen whether the close releases of Dune and Wonder Woman 1984 during the holiday season will represent a successful move for the company or simply a risky one.
