[Update:The new release date is July 28th]
There was a bit of a marketing deluge forThe Dark Towerback in July when we got the first images from the movie along with a bunch of details about the plot. However, Sony has been fairly quiet on the film since then. WhenSteve Weintraub interviewed Sony Pictures chairmanTom Rothmanlast month, Rothman said we should expect to see the first trailer for the film around Christmas, which is a bit surprising considering that the film, the start of a tentpole franchise for the studio, was due out on July 31, 2025.
While we may still see the trailer at Christmas, we’re going to have to wait a little longer for the actual movie. According toEW, Sony has pushed the movie back to summer 2017, which makes more sense for what they’re providing. As it stands, the film could seriously bolster Sony’s anemic summer 2017 slate, which right now only includes the sci-fi thrillerLife,Spider-Man: Homecoming, andJumanji. Also, February isn’t the easy battleground it once was. WhileThe Dark Towerdoes have its fans, the 17th is a crowded weekend that also featuresGore Verbinski’s thrillerA Cure for Wellness, the comedyFist Fight, and theMatt Damonaction filmThe Great Wall.
EW reports that the shift isn’t motivated by the calendar as much as it’s making sure the film is finished in time. “Principal photography for the Nikolaj Arcel-directed film wrapped on schedule in late July,” says EW, “but the plan to have a completed film ready to screen six months later proved to be overly ambitious. Now, Sony Pictures and production company MRC have decided post-production can’t be finished in that timeframe and are about to inform theater owners of the change.”
Trying to shoot and release a VFX-heavy feature in less than a year was certainly ambitious, and I’m glad that Sony is giving directorNikolaj Arceltime to get the long-awaited adaptation right.
