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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 9 May 2019
Disney slates Fox films, 'Avatar' pushed another year

By JAKE COYLE Since Disney's $71.3 billion
Associated Press acquisition of Fox was com-
NEW YORK (AP) — Now pleted in March, the studio
armed with the upcoming hadn't budged on the list-
releases of 20th Century ed release dates of a num-
Fox, the Walt Disney Co. on ber of Fox releases, even
Tuesday set forth a shock- as it was increasingly ap-
and-awe release schedule parent to the industry that
spanning the next eight high-profile upcoming films
years, including the yet- were sure to be delayed
again-postponed "Avatar" under the Disney shake-up.
sequels, a new batch of But the most notable delay
"Star Wars" releases and announced Tuesday was a
Steven Spielberg's "West familiar one: The long wait
Side Story" adaptation. for more "Avatar" films will

This image released by 20th Century Fox shows the characters Neytiri, right, and Jake in a scene
from the 2009 movie "Avatar."
Associated Press

go on a little longer. ter less than two weeks of of Skywalker," is set to rule
James Cameron's long- release. Disney previously the next nine Christmas box
delayed "Avatar 2" will now dated eight Marvel movies office seasons with either
open in theaters on De- over the next three and a an "Avatar" or a "Star Wars"
cember 17, 2021, instead of half years, though it's yet to movie, except for one. For
its most recent date of De- map out its post-"Endgame" the lone exception, De-
cember 18, 2020 — which cinematic universe. cember 2020, the com-
itself followed numerous Disney also dated three pany has dated Steven
already scrapped release untitled "Star Wars" films to Spielberg's "West Side Sto-
dates. The subsequent "Av- arrive in theaters in 2022, ry" (Dec. 18) and "Cruella"
atar" sequels have moved 2024 and 2026. The com- (Dec. 23), a Cruella De Vil
to 2023, 2025 and 2027, re- pany hasn't revealed de- origin story starring Emma
spectively. tails of those projects. "Star Stone.
Cameron's original "Avatar" Wars: The Last Jedi" director As expected, a number of
came out in 2009. Disney's Rian Johnson is developing upcoming Fox films were
"Avengers: Endgame" is a new trilogy for the space delayed. James Grey's
currently approaching the saga. science-fiction tale "Ad
film's $2.8 billion box-office That means that Disney, Astra," with Brad Pitt, has
record with $2.2 billion in which this December will been pushed from May 24
worldwide ticket sales af- release "Star Wars: The Rise to September 20.q

Kristen Stewart celebrates young stars

redefining sexuality

she was "so gay" on "Satur- woman named Savannah
day Night Live" two years Knoop whose sister-in-law
ago. But she sees a shift Laura Albert created Le-
in culture that's allowed Roy as a literary persona.
young people - in and out- Knoop pretended to be
side Hollywood - to accept a man in public appear-
fluidity in gender and sexu- ances as the celebrated
ality. author, and now identi-
Kristen Stewart attends the LA "I felt this huge responsibil- fies as nonbinary. Stewart
Premiere of "JT LeRoy" at Ar- ity, like one that I was really celebrates that decision
cLight Hollywood on Wednes-
day, April 24, 2019, in Los An- genuinely worried about, along with statements
geles. if I wasn't able to say one from younger Hollywood
Associated Press way or the other, then was I stars like Sophie Turner, 23,
sort of like forsaking a side," who have refused to label
By RYAN PEARSON said Stewart, who also had their sexuality. "If you were
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris- a long-term relationship to have this conversation
ten Stewart says she felt a with "Twilight" co-star Rob- with someone like in high
"huge responsibility" to de- ert Pattinson. school, they'd probably like
fine her sexuality after find- "The fact that you don't roll their eyes and go, 'Why
ing fame in the "Twilight" have to now is like so much are you complicating ev-
movie franchise. But she's more truthful," said Stewart. erything so much?' ... Just
glad today's young stars The actress stars alongside sort of do what you want
don't have to do so. Laura Dern in "J.T. LeRoy," to do,'" she said. "It's really
The 29-year-old actress said a biopic about a young nice."q