Hollywood Release Calendar Shuffle Intensifies Amid Ongoing Actors' Strike

As the actors' strike enters its 100th day, Hollywood studios are scrambling to adjust their 2024 theatrical release schedules, with Disney being the latest to make significant announcements. The entertainment giant revealed that it is postponing the release of its highly anticipated live-action Snow White movie, featuring Rachel Zegler, by a full year, from March 22, 2024, to March 21, 2025. Disney's Snow White is a cornerstone of the studio's 2024 lineup and a key player in its spring slate.

Additionally, Pixar's animated film "Elio," originally slated for March 1, 2024, is now set to hit theaters on June 13, 2025. These adjustments are a response to the ongoing actors' strike, which has forced studios to reconsider their release strategies.

In an unrelated move, Disney and Searchlight have decided to remove "Magazine Dreams," starring Jonathan Majors, from their December 2023 release calendar. Majors is currently facing legal issues and is scheduled to stand trial in late November for misdemeanor harassment and assault charges. This decision was widely expected, given the circumstances.

The strike has put immense pressure on studios, with industry leaders, including Disney's Bob Iger, warning SAG-AFTRA that the deadline to make crucial release decisions is fast approaching. Should negotiations remain stalled, more release date changes are expected, particularly for 2024 summer releases.

While Disney's announcement didn't address the status of "Deadpool 3," it is almost certain that the film will need to be rescheduled due to the strike's impact on production schedules.

Paramount has also joined the reshuffling trend, announcing the removal of Tom Cruise's next Mission: Impossible movie from the 2024 box office calendar. The title for the eighth installment of the franchise is expected to change in the process. The strike's continued disruption is driving significant uncertainty in Hollywood's release landscape.