Disney Removes Tom Hardy Movie From Release, Is It Canceled?
According to Variety, the upcoming film The Bikeriders has been removed from Disney’s release slate. The Jeff Nichols-directed drama stars a stacked cast that includes Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy, so it’s strange that the film has been pulled.
The Bikeriders Plan
Originally, the film was set for a December 1 release with Disney and 20th Century Studios on board as the distributors, but now it seems like the film will need to find new distributors.
The $40 million Austin Butler and Tom Hardy drama is backed by New Regency, who decided to push the release date due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
The film originally premiered at Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend, with the goal to hit theaters in 2023 to qualify for the upcoming Oscar season. However, with the film being pulled and in search of a new distributor, it seems pretty unlikely we’ll be seeing it before January at this point.
Release Confusion
Interestingly, the reports indicate that the decision to find a new distributor wasn’t Disney’s and that New Regency actually made the call to seek an alternative distributor for the Tom Hardy film.
It’s currently unclear if Disney will have to release the film if New Regency is unable to find another party to acquire the distribution rights.
The directions may have something to do with the fact that New Regency collaborated with Disney’s 20th Century Studios on the recent film The Creator and 2022’s Amsterdam, which have both been financial disappointments.
The Bikeriders Buzz
The Bikeriders has the makings of an exceptional Oscar-worthy drama, so it makes sense that New Regency is trying to make a splash with it.
The film is based on Danny Lyon’s book of the same name and follows the rise and fall of a Midwest motorcycle club in the 1960s.
Along with the buzzy leads like Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy, the ensemble is rounded out by Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, and Norman Reedus.
Bikeriders Premiere
The Bikeriders has the potential to be both a critical and commercial success for New Regency if it is marketed right, and it seems like New Regency feels like Disney and 20th Century Fox are falling short in that department.
Especially since The Bikeriders has been getting critical praise from early reviews that saw the film’s premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. Particular praise is being heaped on Austin Butler and Tom Hardy for their performances.
Tom Hardy’s Recent Work
While Austin Butler has been busy the last couple of years with films like Elvis and the upcoming Dune: Part Two, we haven’t seen Tom Hardy in a film since 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
So fans will undoubtedly be disappointed if The Bikeriders is pushed to a 2024 release.
If we do have to wait until 2024 for The Bikeriders, it will join Hardy’s other major release that year, the currently untitled Venom: Let There Be Carnage sequel. That film is currently slated for a November 2024 release date.
Bikeriders In Theaters?
If The Bikeriders and the Venom threequel both come out in 2024, it will be a pretty big year for Tom Hardy. Ditto for Austin Butler, who will have the aforementioned Dune: Part Two as part of his schedule.
Stay tuned for more news on The Bikeriders as we wait to find out when they plan to get it out in theaters.
