Fox Sets Release Dates for X-Men: First Class Sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, ID4 3D and More

20th Century Fox announced several release dates for upcoming films today, along with some date changes.

The big news (at least around IGN!) is the official release date for the sequel to X-Men: First Class, which will open July 18th, 2014. Still untitled, the film – again directed by Matthew Vaughn – will go into production in early 2013.

While no official casting has been announced, it’s assumed that at the very least James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence are returning – with Lawrence the subject of a bit of a scheduling war earlier this year, as Fox and Lionsgate both worked to set their production dates for the X-Men sequel and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, respectively. Ultimately, Fox agreed to wait a few months on X-Men, though this means the Hunger Games sequel -- beginning production this fall -- had to be especially fast-tracked, since Fox contractually has first option on the much sought-after Lawrence.

Summer 2014 is pretty big for Fox, as the studio also announced a May 23rd, 2014 date for the newly titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel to the studio’s (after X-Men) “Prequel/reboot there was a lot of skepticism about only for it to ultimately turn into a well-regarded success” of 2011, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Rupert Wyatt will again direct, with Andy Serkis returning as Caeser.

One big move by Fox is Steven Spielberg’s Robopocalypse. Originally scheduled for summer 2013, it will now kick off summer 2014 on April 25th, 2014.

Meanwhile, taking the place of Robopocalypse on July 3rd, 2013 will be Independence Day 3D. Yep, ID4 is getting the 3D rerelease all 1990s blockbusters seem to be lined up for, with Fox noting Stereo 3D, who did the conversion on Titanic (which grossed a huge $344 million worldwide from its 3D re-release) will do the same for ID4.

Fox also announced their Ben Stiller/Kristen Wiig film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty will open Christmas Day, December 25th, 2013. Walking with Dinosaurs has moved from October to December 20th, 2013.

Also scheduled for 2013 by Fox are Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters on August 16th, 2013 (moving from its original March date) and the animated film Epic, featuring the voices of Beyonce Knowles, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Knoxville, Aziz Ansari, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Blake Anderson and Judah Friedlander. ‪‪Lastly, the as-yet-untitled buddy cop movie starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, will open April 5th, 2013.

On the heels of Fox’s schedule announcements today, Disney made a couple of schedule changes of their own today. Opening against ID4 3D on July 3rd, 2013 will be The Lone Ranger, moving from May 31st. And Thor 2 is now opening a week earlier, on November 8th, 2013.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/01/fox-sets-release-dates-for-x-men-first-class-sequel-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-id4-3d-and-more