Mike Fleming

BREAKING: Universal Pictures has shuffled the release dates of several of its major upcoming films and set release dates for several others. Most noticeable on that list is that the studio has pushed the Keanu Reeves-starrer 47 Ronin from February 8, 2013 to Christmas Day, 2013. It’s the second time that the film has been pushed, and this delay revolves around the need for a bit of re-shooting and visual effects work that is being done in London and couldn’t be executed while the Olympics were going on. There have been rumors of woe on this one, directed by heralded commercials helmer Carl Erik Rinsch. While movies that do re-shoots have become the target of bloodsport reporting–reshoots have been a part of moviemaking before the talkie became in vogue, I’m sure–studio insiders maintain that the film is getting where it needs to be in order for the 3D Asian samurai epic to have a chance to succeed.

In other date changes, the Melissa McCarthy-Jason Bateman comedy Identity Thief has moved from May 10, 2013 to 47 Ronin‘s February 8, 2013 date; Jurassic Park in 3D has been moved up from July 19, 2013 to April 5; the Richard Curtis-directed About Time has been dated for release on May 10, 2013; Kick-Ass 2 has been set for June 28, 2013; R.I.P.D., the supernatural comedy that stars Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges has been moved from June 28 to July 19, 2013; and the Denzel Washington-Mark Wahlberg drama 2 Guns has been set for August 16, 2013.