The upcoming Peter Pan film, titled "Pan," has been rescheduled to hit theaters this Oct. 9, moved from its original release of July 24. According to a report by Variety, the decision to move "Pan" is to avoid direct competition with big summer blockbusters "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" and Marvel's "Ant-Man."
This move would allow "Pan" to build its audience while avoiding getting lost in the shuffle of so many summer blockbusters. Prior to this change in release date, July 24 was vacant until "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" moved out of its December schedule to avoid competing with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
It will also be the third time that "Pan" has moved its release date.
"We wanted to give 'Pan' the space to extend its theatrical run, so taking it out of the cluttered summer season made the most sense," explained Warner Bros. distribution executive Dan Fellman.
This would reassure fans that the rescheduling is not due to internal problems with the film such as the need for re-shoots or script fixes.
The new schedule instead puts the film opposite the Steve Jobs biopic starring Michael Fassbender and the suspense-thriller "Kidnap" starring Halle Berry. With better counter-programming, "Pan" would potentially have a higher weekend box office since the films opening against it are targeted toward a different demographic.
"Pan" is directed by Joe Wright and is based on a screenplay penned by Jason Fuchs. The film stars Levi Miller as Peter Pan and Garett Hedlund as a young Captain Hook. Hugh Jackman will be the primary antagonist, the pirate Blackbeard.
The official synopsis sets the film in the middle of World War II. A group of orphans are kidnapped by a band of pirates and brought to the magical land of Neverland. One of the orphans, Peter Pan, realizes that it is his destiny to save the land from the pirate lord Blackbeard.
