Walt Disney Studios announced a few release schedule changes today that affect a number of their upcoming films. The first schedule change comes for “Monsters, Inc 2,” the sequel to the popular Pixar film. Originally reported to open in theaters on November 16, 2012, the film’s release will now be pushed up two weeks, opening instead on November 2 of the same year. This is presumably so the film won’t have to compete with Hollywood’s most popular vampires when “Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part 2),” the final installment of the popular “Twilight” series, premieres in theaters on the original release date, November 16.
More significant, however, is the complete removal of two films from the schedule: upcoming Pixar film “newt” and the 3D rerelease of “Beauty and the Beast.” “newt” was originally slated to be released in Summer 2012, but with another upcoming Pixar film, “Brave,” coming on June 15, 2012, it’s not surprising to see the film removed. “Beauty and the Beast” was expected to be released sometime in 2011 (after being shifted back from 2010), and the removal of it from the schedule comes as a bit of a surprise, given that the rerelease is already scheduled to premiere internationally this year. The Hollywood Reporter speculates, however, that this news could only mean that Disney is just waiting to spend the money to rerelease the movie in the US until more Americans can enjoy the 3D release not only in theaters, but at home using 3D television sets as well.
To make up for these removals, a new addition was added to the schedule as well, as Disney announced that its new movie “Prom,” which centers around “a group of high school-aged kids preparing for the titular night,” will premiere on April 29, 2011. Finally, Disney’s upcoming movie “Secretariat” will have preview screenings on October 2 of this year before it officially premieres nationwide on October 8.
