Hansel & Gretel Will Have to Wait Till 2013 to Hunt Those Witches

Test screenings were held for Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters awhile back, but couldn't get anything on how it scored, and Paramount hasn't said a peep about the movie in general. Note-worthy since it remained on schedule for a March 2, 2012 release and a trailer Entertainment Weekly promised that never showed up.

So I assumed we were in a change of release. Enough time for reshoots – maybe August where horror fare does better or October. Well, yes and no. Paramount has moved it back. To January 11, 2013 – a hair shy of a year later than planned.

Not a good sign. Almost as a means to cover their ass, Paramount is telling THR the move has to do with 3D shots only now coming in, their desire to map out the 3D marketing strategy for the foreign territories where the gimmick still secures asses in seats (because slapping on a "In 3D" after the title isn't enough?) and their anticipation for co-star Jeremy Renner to boom. That last part I buy.

Renner's coming off Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, a great action movie doing great business and The Avengers will be here before we know it in May. But those are ensemble pieces and in the case of M:I 4 it's not like people are talking about his performance afterwards (That continues to be Tom Cruise's vanity franchise with elbow room for Ving Rhames and, now, Simon Pegg). Won't be until The Bourne Legacy that truly tests Renner's marketability - a play that could pay off or fail miserably.

If you look up and in the spring or summer hear about reshoots on Hansel & Gretel, don't be surprised.