The release date for the new origin tale for King Kong being made by Universal studios has been pushed back to 2017, it was announced in the Hollywood Reporter today.

The movie, starring British heartthrob Tom Hiddleston, is being made by Legendary who also brought us Dracula Untold and Interstellar. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is taking the helm for this one. The move which is now titled , Kong: Skull Island is set to be how the creature became the King of the apes came to be as well as following a team of explorers as they venture deep in to the heart of the dark and mysterious island. It was written by John Gatins and Max Borenstein

Originally Kong: Skull Island was scheduled for release on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 but has been shifted to 4 months later on Friday, March 10, 2017. It will also have a 3D and Imax 3D version released. Tom Hiddleston in 3D….. well that is certainly worth the wait.

Kong: Skull Island would have been competing with Marvel’s Doctor Strange, starring man-of-the-moment and Imitation Game star Benedict Cumberbatch as well as Trolls being released by Fox. Reports at this point show that the only big studio film slated for release that month is an untitled Bollywood musical from Fox Studios.

It was not the only film who had a switch for release dates announced. Universal has also moved another Legendary production. An as yet untitled Great Wall project will be released Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, with the Chinese market opening in early December 2016.

Zhang Yimou is one of my favourite Chinese directors. He was responsible for such visual feasts and incredible ancient story lines being brought to life in such films as Hero and one of my ALL time favourite movies The House of Flying Daggers.

This project marks Yimou’s English Language directorial debut, and while not much is known about the film, it is rumoured to tell the story of an elite force (Which means hopefully lots of great martial arts moves and stunts) as they make a stand for humanity on the iconic structure.

This movie is also going to be the largest scale film ever to be shot solely within China and is currently in pre-production with filming set to begin in the early part of 2015

The films US release date means it will be the Thanksgiving weekend, and at this time will only be up agains the Disney film Moana, about a Polynesian princess.

Advertisements