Universal and Fox Play Chess With ‘American Made,’ ‘Kingsman’ Sequel Release Dates

Cat and mouse games are typically played within action films — but in the case of two high-octane projects from Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox, it’s happening around them.

The initial move from Universal was not to avoid direct competition, an insider with knowledge of the studio’s thinking told TheWrap at the time, but rather an opportunity to land some coveted IMAX screens for the film in which Crusie plays a real-life TWA pilot and drug smuggler turned informant for the CIA.

The studio confirmed as much on Saturday afternoon, saying through a spokesperson that the latest date change “will continue to incorporate an element of IMAX into Universal Pictures’ release strategy.”

The date shuffling rings competitive at a time when the studio establishment seems overly chummy, as they collectively attempt to mollify American theater exhibitors, mitigate pressure to collapse release windows and compete with deep-pocketed streaming services for talent and product.