What is the Real Story Behind All the ‘Valkyrie’ Release Date Changes?
Now it won't be out until 2009
The first time the release date was changed for Bryan Singer’s Tom Cruise starrer Valkyrie it was bumped from June 27, 2008 to October 2008. Following the move and all the way up until today there was buzz that Cruise’s German accent was terrible and then there were those “reshoots” that actually turned out to be “intended” shooting days.
The film has now abandoned its October release date and filled a slot left vacant by The Wolf Man and now rests with a February 13, 2009 release (Wolf Man moved to April 3, 2009).
Anyone who ever follows movie progress realizes this is not good news. Valkyrie, to me, sounds like an Oscar worthy film that was suddenly being sold as a summer blockbuster and has now fallen into the ranks of 1st Quarter Hollywood dumping ground.
The competition? Confessions of a Shopaholic and Friday the 13th. Yeah, it’s a German Cruise vs. Isla Fisher vs. Jason Voorhees. Talk about counter programming.
MGM’s Clark Woods, President of Domestic Distribution, was quoted saying, “When an opening became available for President’s Day Weekend, we seized the opportunity. Having seen a lot of the film and how great it is going to play once it’s finished, moving into a big holiday weekend is the right move.”
Right move for what? What kind of film is this anyway? A February release certainly doesn’t smell like Oscar. Oh, and if you want a plush holiday release Thanksgiving is currently only occupied by Disney’s Bolt, snatch it up.
“Valkyrie is shaping up to be a phenomenal movie,” said Dennis Rice, President of Worldwide Marketing and Publicity for United Artists. “We’re delighted that MGM has agreed to hold the release until the very strong holiday weekend.”
Very strong holiday weekend eh? Is that why they are battling an Isla Fisher rom-com and a horror remake that really could only choose between Friday the 13th in February or March and decided on the former because it was President’s Day Weekend? I just don’t buy it. I have a feeling more work needs to be done on the film, a lot more work perhaps, considering the film was originally intended to be released in only two short months. However, the studio is now deciding to hold it for nearly nine months beyond its original release? Yikes.
Who knows, maybe they have given Cruise a voice-acting coach and he is going to record his entire performance over again.
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