20th Century Fox is rejigging its upcoming slate as Dexter Fletcher’s Bohemian Rhapsody gets an early release date and a whole host of other movies find new premieres.
The Freddie Mercury biopic has been in the works since 2010, but fans can now almost hear the iconic music of Queen playing in theaters. Bohemian Rhapsody has been ‘Under Pressure’ for a long time, so let’s pray that a new release date and some clever marketing can bring Mercury back to life with Rami Malek capturing the spirit of the sensational singer.
According to Deadline, Bohemian Rhapsody was originally set to open on Christmas Day but has been moved up to Nov. 2, 2018. However, while the studio is set to rock out with Queen earlier than expected, it has shoved both X-Men: Dark Phoenix and New Mutants back. Comic book fans will be unimpressed as Bohemian Rhapsody now takes the place that Simon Kinberg’s Dark Phoenix was supposed to take. There is no news on why Rhapsody is getting an earlier release and Phoenix a delay, but the Fox/Disney merger could have something to do with it. Additionally, Bohemian Rhapsody now moves out of a crowded holiday slate in December.
Elsewhere, Don Winslow’s The Force has lost its March 2019 date for a yet-to-be-determined release and is replaced by medieval fantasy The Kid Who Would Be King - also delayed from February 14. Topher Grace will still play Pastor John Noble in Roxann Dawson’s Breakthrough as it movies to April 12, now sharing the date with Spies in Disguise which was scheduled for January 18. Across the board, the news represents a slew of delays for the studio, with only Bohemian Rhapsody facing an early release.
To be honest, the movie based on the story of the flamboyant Mercury could probably use some extra time. For a while, it looked like the film wouldn’t happen at all, as Bohemian Rhapsody faced setback after setback. Sacha Baron Cohen famously exited the project over disputes with Queen musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor, leaving Mr. Robot star Malek to eventually take over as Mercury. Bryan Singer was the film’s original director, but was reportedly fired from the movie back in December. Dexter Fletcher came in as his replacement, rounding off the final cast and crew late last year.
Hopefully, Bohemian Rhapsody is now on the home stretch and can make it to theaters without any more problems. Biopic movies tend to be sink or swim at the box office, but with Malek already nailing the look of Mercury - and Freddie being a true legend of the music world - here’s hoping Bohemian Rhapsody can still be a ‘Killer Queen’ when it reaches theaters on November 2.
More: Bohemian Rhapsody Set Video: Queen’s Live Aid Performance Recreated
Source: Deadline
- Bohemian Rhapsody Release Date: 2018-11-02
