After generating substantial buzz with its first trailer, The Martian has jumped up a notch on Twentieth Century Fox's release date schedule. Previously occupying the Thanksgiving date of Wednesday, November 25th, The Martian will now bow on Friday, October 2nd. This puts the Ridley Scott sci-fi survival story on the same schedule as Robert Zemeckis' The Walk, which released its own new trailer featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt earlier this week, and the Gerard Butler-fronted London Has Fallen. Those of you who can remember all the way back to 2013 will note that Gravity opened this same weekend; it worked out pretty well for them. When the time comes we'll see which movie wins the box office space race.
But where Fox shuffles one release date, they must shuffle another. (It's the law of shuffling.) So while The Martian will enjoy the early release, Victor Frankenstein looks to reap the holiday rewards with a November 25th opening date. Paul McGuigan directs from a Max Landis script that sees James McAvoy playing Victor Von Frankenstein and Daniel Radcliffe as Igor, through whose perspective the story is told. This fresh take on an old tale is pitched as more of an origin story of Dr. Frankenstein seen through the redemptive friendship he forms with his troubled assistant, a curious approach that certainly bears consideration when it opens later this Fall.
Hat tip to @ERCboxoffice for the heads up:
