Warner Bros delays ‘Dune’ sequel, ‘Lord of the Rings’ release amid Hollywood actors’ strike

Warner Bros had no other option but to delay the ‘Dune’ sequel and ‘Lord of the Rings’ film’s release amid Hollywood actors’ strike!

“Dune: Part Two” will now debut on March 15, a date that had been reserved for the Warner Bros film “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

While the monster movie has been shifted to April 12.

Meanwhile, an animated “Lord of the Rings” film that had been set for April has been moved to December.

A studio spokesperson said that the move has been made as its stars cannot promote the movie during the Hollywood actors’ strike.

The SAG-AFTRA actors union has been on strike since July 14, and top actors are refusing to promote upcoming films and TV shows during the work stoppage.

The situation deals a blow to cinema chains such as AMC Entertainment, Cineplex and others still trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dune 2” was one of the most anticipated movies on the late 2023 release schedule.

“Dune: Part Two” a sci-fi sequel based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel about an intergalactic battle to control a precious resource, stars Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet in the lead roles.

The first installment, released in 2021 during the pandemic, bagged $US402 million ($A627 million) at global box offices.