Following the cancellation of Batgirl by new CEO David Zaslav, it comes as no surprise to see the studio make some alterations to its schedule, as reported by Deadline. The current situation at Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed that the studio intends to produce more theatrical fare, while also toning down its focus on streaming. The move to theatrical release for Evil Dead Rise is likely due to this shift in focus.

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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is being helmed by James Wan, requires more time in post-production. Its release date has therefore been moved from March 14, 2023, to December 25, 2023. This change means the film will now be released just a little over five years after its predecessor originally premiered. Shazam! Fury of the Gods, meanwhile, is now being pushed from its original December 21, 2022 release date to Aquaman’s previous March 14, 2023 date, likely to keep a box-office clash from occurring with Avatar: The Way of Water. Evil Dead Rise will be opening in theaters on April 21, 2023. Joining it in the move from streaming to theatrical release is House Party. The LeBron James/Maverick Carter-produced film will be released on December 9, 2022.

Zaslav’s recent comments indicating that he wants to see an exciting future for the DCEU probably hint at the reason for the changes to Aquaman and Shazam’s release date. With Aquaman reportedly needing some more time in post-production, it’s likely the studio wants to polish it up and ensure good word-of-mouth. Meanwhile, while the original Shazam was a decent success for the studio, it likely would not have fared as well against a predicted box-office juggernaut like Avatar: The Way of Water. It, therefore, makes financial sense to move that film into Aquaman’s original release date, though it’s easy to see why fans may be disappointed when they have to wait a bit longer.

It’s also possible that the studio wants to make some changes to the films, amidst reports that Warner Bros. Discovery wants to overhaul DC Films with a new leader. The DCEU has featured some notable hits, while also including some notable misses in its lineup. Currently, the plans for a DC overhaul seem nebulous at best, so giving these films some more time in post-production will probably allow the studio some extra time to decide what it wants to do with the brand.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods will release in theaters on March 14, 2023, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will release in theaters on December 25, 2023, and Evil Dead Rise will release in theaters on April 21, 2023.

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Source: Deadline