Not So Merry Men: Nottingham, Wolfman Release Dates Pushed Back

Grrrrr….

Variety reports that Universal has changed the release dates of its hopefully high-profile films The Wolfman and Nottingham.

In the case of The Wolfman, things aren’t so bad–the film is being shifted from April 3rd to November 6th. This is ostensibly to give it a more prestigious opening, as well as more time in post-production, always a good thing for a film as CGI heavy as this one. Moving it to the fall, though, when big money and big award hopefuls open, shows that Universal must think it’s pretty good. Also, it just seems more autumnal. At least I think so. Benicio del Toro stars as the big-haired man of the title.

Nottingham, meanwhile, is off of the 2009 calendar altogether. The Ridley Scott film, set to star Russell Crowe as Robin Hood turned Sheriff of Nottingham, won’t start filming until February or March (which, if I remember correctly, is a full year later than originally planned). Universal must feel that’s cutting it too close for the kind of big holiday season opening they’d like for it. Now I would think they’re debating whether they want to position it as a big summer movie or a big holiday 2010 movie. The awards folk do love that Russell Crowe…

Oh, and by the way, The Fast and the Furious 4 is now opening on April 3rd instead of the previously planned June 12th. Yeah, I’m busy changing my vacation plans too.