The other shoe has finally dropped following last month’s move of Star Wars: Episode VIII from it’s originally announced May 2017 premier to December 15th of that year. Already scheduled for that date was director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the bestselling novel Ready Player One. But Warners has announced today that they are moving the film away from the Star Wars juggernaut to a more friendly March 30, 2018 date.
The push back not only gives the film a fighting chance at dominating the box office, but also increases the number of higher ticket price IMAX screens that would be available for the film to be screened on. Currently, its only competition is an unnamed Universal Monsters franchise film. The weekend also comes between the end of the Winter Olympics and the start of the 2018 World Cup soccer tournament.
Additionally, Warners moved forward by a week the untitled DC Comics superhero film it has scheduled for March 23, 2018 to March 16, also with the intent of capitalizing on capturing IMAX screens as the release window of Episode VIII winds down. Although they haven’t officially confirmed it, it is expected that date is where Warners will debut their Flash film.
Warners also announced an untitled tentpole film for its New Line subsidiary on April 20, 2018. No other films have staked a claim on that date yet.
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