The fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the film and entertainment industry, as blockbusters expected to revive the ailing theatre business have ended up being rescheduled because of the pandemic.
Variety reports that Universal Pictures, the studio behind Jurassic World: Dominion, has moved the premiere of the sequel all the way to June 10, 2022. The new date is a full year away from the original release date of the film, which was to be in the summer of 2021.
On Twitter, the film’s director Colin Trevorrow posted a teaser poster for the film as well as assuring fans that the long wait would be worth it. He described the cast and crew as extraordinary and remarked that he can’t wait for the whole world to see the film.
Jurassic World: Dominion will see the return of franchise stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt, as well as the stars of Jurassic Park -- Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum.
As pointed out by Cinema Blend, moving Jurassic World: Dominion to 2022 is an expected and smart move on the part of Universal Pictures because of the volatility of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The move also prevents Universal Pictures from cannibalizing its own audience. Justin Lin’s F9 is a Universal movie whose premiere date has been moved to May 28, 2021. If Jurassic World: Dominion had remained on the same date, the two films would have clashed at the box office.
The shuffling of movie premiere dates has now become an unwelcome side effect of the global coronavirus pandemic, endangering not just Hollywood but the movie theatre business as well. On practically the same day Universal announced the move to 2022 for Jurassic World: Dominion, Warner Bros. said it would also be moving The Batman to 2022.
The Batman was originally meant to premiere on Oct. 1, 2021, but has now been moved to March 4, 2022. Other films that have had their premiere dates moved include Shazam! 2, The Flash, Black Adam, Minecraft, and Dune.
- The Flash has been moved to Nov. 4, 200, while Shazam! 2 will now arrive on movie screens on June 2, 2023, instead. Dune will now premiere on Oct. 1, 2021 instead. No new release dates have been provided for Black Adam and Minecraft.
Other tentpoles have also announced their new premiere dates earlier this year. Wonder Woman 1984 is set to premiere on Christmas Day, although there is speculation that it may be moved once again.
Disney’s Black Widow will now premiere on May 7, 2021. New release dates have also been announced for The Kings Man, Candyman, and No Time to Die.