People are still fuming over 20th Century Fox's decision to push Dark Phoenix back to a later release date just two days after the film's first trailer was unveiled. However, it looks like the move was more than just a way to get fans riled up over the movie.
There are two Fox films that have been given new release dates. Alita: Battle Angel, which was scheduled for December, will now be getting the Dark Phoenix slot on February 14, 2019. The X-Men movie has then been pushed back to June 7, 2019.
But what has compelled Fox to make such a drastic move? According to Variety, the studio is hoping to get a stronger international opening. It has been revealed that although the response to the Dark Phoenix trailer has been relative lukewarm in the US, fans in China couldn't get enough of the movie. In short, Fox is hoping the film will open in more Chinese theaters if they continue the hype. More theaters would mean more tickets sold, which would lead to major international box office success.
It's no secret that major Hollywood studios have been trying to please Chinese audiences for some time now. Although there is a huge possibility that Dark Phoenix will be a huge hit in China, there is also a chance that other fans will simply lose interest after waiting for the movie for more than a year. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that Fox is making a smart move with this one.
It has also been revealed that Alita's Christmas slot might be replaced by a PG-13 cut of Deadpool 2. Although Fox is called it "Untitled Deadpool Movie", the new theatrical release could simply be a version of the sequel without all the cursing.
Deadpool 2, the PG-13 cut, will hit theaters on December 21.
Related: Fox To Release Deadpool 2 PG-13 Cut In Theaters For Christmas
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