'Fast and Furious 9' release date pushed back

Universal Pictures' 'Fast and Furious 9' has been shifted back six weeks from April 10 to May 22, 2020.

This is the second backward shift for the title, reported Variety. Earlier, in 2017, Universal moved the film back a year from April 19, 2019, to April 10, 2020. Both dates fall on Easter weekend.

'Fast and Furious 9' will now face Warner Bros./Legendary's 'Godzilla vs. Kong' and Paramount's 'The Spongebob Movie.'

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The eighth film in the franchise, 'The Fate of the Furious' had managed to gross USD 1.2 billion worldwide and was directed F. Gary Gray. The film starred Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Scott Eastwood, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron.

The franchise has collectively grossed USD 5 billion worldwide since first being launched in 2001. 'Furious 7,' which featured the late Paul Walker's final appearance, is the top performer, having hauled $1.5 billion globally.

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The spinoff 'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' hits theaters on Aug. 2. The film sees Dwayne Johnson's former U.S. Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham's ex-MI6 agent Deckard Shaw joining forces to take on Idris Elba's international terrorist Brixton.