Set Photo of Angelina Jolie riding on the Viper in WANTED(2008).
© Universal Pictures

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Universal Pushes WANTED To Summer 2008

Universal has made yet another strange decision for one of their future films. It's about as crazy as releasing too many movies in the December 21-25 corridor, something we've discussed in our weekly box office reports. Universal has decided to push WANTED from its March 28, 2008 release to June 27, 2008. The June 27, 2008 weekend is already crowded with its current lineup. Bryan Singer's VALKYRIE and Pixar's WALL-E will also hit theaters on that day in mid summer. It's not strange that a movie production needs more time and the studio pushes it back to a later date. It is strange, however, that the studio thinks having it compete against a Pixar movie & another major tentpole seems like a wise move..

Here's the press release...

Universal Pictures has moved the release date of its hotly anticipated fantasy-action-thriller Wanted from spring to summer. The film will now be released on Friday, June 27, rather than its former release date of March 28.

The film stars James McAvoy (Atonement), Morgan Freeman (The Bucket List), Common (American Gangster) and Angelina Jolie (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) as members of a secret society that carries out the orders of fate itself. It is the first English-language film directed by Russian visual pioneer Timur Bekmambetov, creator of the Night Watch series—the most successful film franchise in his country's history. Based upon Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series, the film is produced by Marc Platt (Legally Blonde), Jason Netter (Painkiller Jane), Jim Lemley (Invincible) and Iain Smith (Children of Men).

In making the date-change announcement, Nikki Rocco, Universal Pictures' President of Distribution, stated, "After an early look at Wanted, we are certain that it fulfills its promise as a stunning, committed, thrilling, eye-popping vision that introduces a bold new narrative. We believe it can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the event titles of the summer and will give audiences a chance to discover a fresh new alternative. We are excited to date the film on June 27."

Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson.

25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut.