Bullock
Fox moved 'All About Steve' to the fall to avoid current femme-themed pics and also a March 6 showdown with 'Watchmen.'
Twentieth Century Fox has pushed back the release of Sandra Bullock romantic comedy "All About Steve" from March 6 to the fall rather than risk saturating the market with too many femme-driven pics.
The delay also keeps "About Steve" from having to go up against Warner Bros.' "Watchmen," in which Fox now has a stake after a long legal wrangle over rights to the property.
"Watchmen," Zack Snyder's adaptation of the graphic novel, debuts March 6.
Fox hasn't set a new release date for "About Steve," also starring Bradley Cooper and Thomas Haden Church, but notes that the fall is much quieter in terms of female fare.
Over the weekend, Disney's "Confessions of a Shopaholic" struggled in its opening, hampered by the strong hold of Warner Bros. and New Line's "He's Just Not That Into You."
"About Steve" and "Watchmen" are opposites in terms of their core demos. In the summer, studios often counterprogram against fanboy-driven pics with female titles. At the same time, "About Steve" would have had to compete with "Watchmen" for younger girls.
Paramount also has made changes to its calendar, moving up the release of Wayans brothers' sendup comedy "Dance Flick" to May 22, a heavyweight sesh that sees the bows of Warners' "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" and Fox's "Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian."
A month later, Par will open "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" June 24, instead of June 26.
Contact Pamela McClintock at
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