The first trailer dropped three months ago, on the heels of the film’s premiere at Telluride. But then distributor New Regency, which is backed by Disney, decided to delay the film from its December 1 release date due to the then-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike,
which would prevent the cast, including Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, and Austin Butler, from promoting the film. One wonders if this was just a cover for something else, though, as New Regency then put the film up for sale entirely.
Focus Features snapped it up quick, and The Bikeriders now has a new-old trailer with Focus Features branding and a new release date of June 21, 2024. So, The Bikeriders is now summer counterprogramming, and Dune: Part Two is once again Austin Butler’s first post-Elvis role.
It was reportedly New Regency’s call to sell off the film, but their distribution deal with Disney, though recently renewed, hasn’t produced many hits. Horror film Barbarian was a sleeper hit last year, but The Northman, Amsterdam, and The Creator were all expensive flops (justice for The Northman!).
The Bikeriders has a reported budget of $40 million, making it the least expensive film of the set, but though they blamed selling off The Bikeriders on the strike, it sure looks like New Regency, and by extension Disney, didn’t want another high-profile bomb on their hands.
And given how competitive the Oscar season is, and how unpredictable the box office is lately—Wonka is looking to be the holiday hit, I cannot believe it—the decision to try The Bikeriders as a summer sleeper makes some sense.
But that means waiting six more months for this film. Summer 2024 is a fake time! You cannot convince me it’s real! Although, summer brings motorcycles to Chicago, including the Outlaws, upon whom the film is loosely based. It might be worth finding some riders and asking their opinion on the movie. Although, there’s supposedly a turf war brewing so…maybe not.
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