- Release date of Wicked has changed and now coincides with Gladiator II
- Could aim to ape success of simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer
- Wicked was slated to open alongside Moana 2
Barbenheimer was the cinematic success of 2023, but now could we be getting a 2024 version as Wicked and Gladiator 2 are set to be released on the same day? Wickiator anyone? Gladicked?
This thrilling prospect of seeing two much-anticipated movies back-to-back has sent movie fans into a frenzy.
Date change
Previously, Wicked – the first part of the big screen version of the wildly successful Broadway show – was set to be released on November 27, but that date has now been brought forward by five days.
There is speculation that the date has been moved to avoid clashing with the release of another hugely anticipated film, Disney’s Moana 2 – a film with a similar viewing demographic.
But now it means it is directly up against Gladiator II, another much-anticipated sequel on the key pre-Thanksgiving weekend.
Gladiator II is the sequel to 2000’s Gladiator. Directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, among others, it tells the story of Lucius, a former heir to the Roman Empire who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded.
New Barbenheimer
This move has led to thoughts that the two films could have a similar success to when Barbie and Oppenheimer – again, two vastly different films – opened on the same date last year. The two were the biggest films of the summer and many people went and saw them back-to-back – hence it became known as ‘Barbenheimer’.
On Instagram, some commentors have backed this assertion. “Real cinephiles watch both not one,” said one user. Another said “It’ll be another Barbie situation. Ppl underestimated that fanbase.”
