Warner Bros. & Legendary Move Up Release Date of Javier Bardem’s “Dune: Part Two” to March 1

Javier Bardem has been given his March-ing orders for his highly-anticipated film.

Warner Bros. and Legendary have moved up the release of Denis Villenueve’s Dune: Part Two, starring the 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor.

Javier BardemThe second half of the space epic will now open nationwide on March 1.

The new date is two weeks earlier than the March 15 date Warner Bros. set in August when it moved Dune: Part Two out of 2023 amid the Hollywood strikes. The sequel was originally set to open on November 3.

Dune: Part Two is the second chapter in Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science-fiction novel.

The first film opened simultaneously in theaters and on Max (then known as HBO Max) in November 2021 and grossed $402 million at the worldwide box office. It also earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and won the Oscars for original score, sound, film editing, cinematography, production design and visual effects.

In addition to Bardem, Villeneuve’s original Dune cast members Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård and Charlotte Rampling are all back for the second chapter.

Newcomers to the franchise include Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

“I just I loved the first film so much,” Butler previously told Variety about stepping into Villeneuve’s world. “It was this cinematic masterpiece, so the idea of getting to be a part of that world is just incredibly exciting and Denis is one of my favorite filmmakers and just an amazing human being. He’s so kind and I’m a fan of every one of those actors in the film, so I I felt really honored.”

In a recent interview with Empire, Villeneuve shared his hopes for a third installment in the sci-fi epic film series, saying, “If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream.”

On his Dune: Part Three progress, Villeneuve teased, “I will say, there are words on paper.” The project would be based on Dune Messiah, the direct sequel to Dune author Frank Herbert’s 1965 original novel.

The official Dune: Part Two synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary reads: “This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”

Warner Bros. Releases New Trailer for Javier Bardem’s “Dune: Part Two”

Javier Bardem is returning to the desert…

Warner Bros has released a new trailer for Dune: Part Two, starring the 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor as Stilgar.

Javier BardemDenis Villeneuve’s second film in a planned three-film saga is based on Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel.

The Warner/Legendary Pictures film is set to hit theaters on November 3, 2023.

Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani in the film, which picks up after the events of the first Dune, which bowed in 2021 and grossed more than $402 million at the global box office.

In addition to Chalamet, Zenday and Bardem, returning cast members also include Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Stellan Skarsgård.

They’ll be joined by newcomers Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Léa Seydoux.

The middle film in the series finds Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen out for revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee (The film’s tagline is “Fury Will Rise”).

Villeneuve co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts from Herbert’s novel.

The new trailer, which comes after the first official trailer dropped in May following its showing at CinemaCon, shows off the scope that helped the original pic score 11 Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

Dune: Part One won six Oscars in the crafts categories and returns several from that team here, including editor Joe Walker, production designer Patrice Vermette, composer Hans Zimmer and VFX supervisor Paul Lambert. Costume designer Jacqueline West, who was nominated last go-around, also returns.

Ana de Armas’ Bond Debut Delayed as “No Time to Die” Release Moved to November Due to Coronavirus

Ana de Armas’ big Bonddebut will have to wait…

With the coronavirus affecting the box office, MGMEon and Universal are postponing the next James Bondmovie, No Time to Die from its UK and international release date of April 2 and its U.S. Easter weekend global day-and-date of April 10.

Ana de Armas, No Time to Die

The 25th 007movie will now open on November 25, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

“MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G Wilsonand Barbara Broccoli, announced today that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of No Time to Diewill be postponed until November 2020. The film will be released in the U.K. on November 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the U.S. launch on November 25, 2020,” said a statement given exclusively to Deadline by the three studios.

The decision to move the film to November is purely an economic decision, and not one based on growing fears over the coronavirus. 

Bond is a day-and-date worldwide release, and with the franchise back in the hands of MGM fully post Sony’s distribution of the last four Daniel Craigmovies, along with Universal, all parties involved need to have all foreign territories working at their maximum in order for the latest Bond to be a continued box office success. For a tentpole of this size and scope, that kind of decrease in business would have a significant and detrimental impact on the film’s ultimate global take.

All together, the last four Craig 007 movies – SpectreSkyfallQuantum of Solaceand Casino Royale— have grossed $3.2B in the overall near $7B franchise, with Skyfallbeing the highest grossing film of all-time in the 58-year-old series at a whopping $1.1B. Failing at the box office is not an option for Bond, and for the studios to stick to their original release plan would be a disservice to their partners in exhibition.

No Time to Die features Craig in his fifth and final outing as the fictional MI6 agent. It’s directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga from a screenplay by Neal PurvisRobert Wade, Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Léa SeydouxBen WhishawNaomie HarrisRory KinnearJeffrey WrightChristoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes reprise their roles from previous films, with de Armas, who portrays Paloma, a CIA agent assisting Bond, joining the cast. Other new additions include Rami MalekLashana LynchDali BenssalahDavid Dencik and Billy Magnussen.

Ana de Armas to Star in Bond 25 Film

There’s a special Bondin Ana de Armas’ future…

The producers of Bond 25 have revealed key cast and production details from Jamaica, the iconic location for previous Bond films including Dr. No and Live and Let Die.

Ana de Armas

Broadcasting live on Twitter, the production confirmed incoming cast including the 30-year-old Spanish/Cuban actress.

de Armas previously starred in another high-profile film, Blade Runner 2049, which earned her a Saturn Awardnomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In addition to de Armas, other cast members include Rami MalekLashana LynchBilly MagnussenDavid Dencik, and Dali Benssalah

Returning franchise cast members include Ralph FiennesLea Seydoux,Naomie HarrisJeffrey WrightRory Kinnearand Ben WhishawDaniel Craig returns as James Bond.

A title wasn’t revealed but producer Barbara Broccolisaid the film will start in Jamaica where “Bond is not on active service, he is enjoying himself. We’ve got quite a ride in store for him.” His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from theCIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

The production has already shot in Norway and will head over to the UK’s Pinewood studio then onto Matera in Italy. The movie will be the first Bond to use IMAXcameras.

Cary Joji Fukunagais writer-director.  Malek is expected to portray the film’s villain. 

The film recently had a release date change from February 14 2020 to April 8 2020. Additional writers on the script were today confirmed as Neil PurvisRobert WadeScott Z Burnsand Fleabag‘s Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

MGM will release the film domestically through their United Artists Releasingbanner on April 8. It will go through Universal Pictures International and MGM in the UK and internationally from April 3, 2020.

Christina Aguilera to Star in the Futuristic Love Story “Zoe”

Christina Aguilera is headed back to the big screen…

The 36-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer has joined the cast of Drake Doremus’ Zoe.

Christina Aguilera

Written by The Beauty Inside’s Rich Greenberg, the futuristic love story follows two colleagues at a revolutionary research lab who design technology to improve and perfect romantic relationships. As their work progresses, their discoveries become more profound than they could ever have imagined.

Aguilera, who made her big screen debut opposite Cher in 2010’s insta-cult classic Burlesque, will star opposite Theo JamesRashida Jones, Miranda Otto, Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux in the film, which starts production in Montreal next Monday.

Zoe is being financed by Stuart Ford’s IM Global with Scott Free’s Michael Pruss and Kevin Walsh producing with Doremus and Robert George.

Before breaking onto the music scene with “Genie in the Bottle,” Aguilera—a five-time Grammy winner and recurring The Voice coach—appeared on the television series Star Search and The Mickey Mouse Club.