Call it one scrubbed take-off attempt.
The futuristic thriller “Jupiter Ascending” will no longer open in theaters as planned on July 18.
In a startling move, Warner Bros and Village Roadshow announced the $150 million sci-fi epic starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis will now open on February 6, 2015, according to the industry website Variety;http://variety.com/interstitial/?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2014%2Ffilm%2Fnews%2Fjupiter-ascending-delayed-until-february-2015-1201211461%2F .
The article cited a need to complete 2,000 special-effects shots for the film.
“With the July release date, they were just not going to make it on time,” domestic distribution chief Dan Fellman told Variety.
The film was produced and directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski of the Matrix trilogy.
Industry website The Hollywood Reporter called the 11th-hour release change;http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wachowskis-jupiter-ascending-abruptly-bumped-709184 “stunning” and cited “bad buzz” about the film as a major factor.
Another industry website, The Wrap, went further;http://www.thewrap.com/channing-tatums-jupiter-ascending-moves-to-2015/, saying “Jupiter Ascending” has “been plagued by bad buzz since its initial trailer.”
The film will now open against the Johnny Depp film “Mortdecai” and “Seventh Son” starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.
