'47 Ronin' Release Date: Keanu Reeves Film Pushed To Christmas 2013

Keanu Reeves Film Hits Trouble: '47 Ronin' Pushed
HONG KONG - MARCH 18: Actor Keanu Reeves poses on the red carpet at the Power of Film Gala at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong's Grand Ballroom on March 18, 2012 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. The event will honour international actor and filmmaker Keanu Reeves and Hong Kong-based documentary filmmaker Duncan Jepson, with funds from the charity event supporting FilmAid Asia's programmes, which use the power of film to bring education to refugees and displaced persons globally. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
HONG KONG - MARCH 18: Actor Keanu Reeves poses on the red carpet at the Power of Film Gala at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong's Grand Ballroom on March 18, 2012 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. The event will honour international actor and filmmaker Keanu Reeves and Hong Kong-based documentary filmmaker Duncan Jepson, with funds from the charity event supporting FilmAid Asia's programmes, which use the power of film to bring education to refugees and displaced persons globally. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

If it feels like "47 Ronin" has been on the cusp of a release for the better part of six months, that's because it has: The Keanu Reeves film was initially set to arrive in theaters on Nov. 21, but was pushed back to Feb. 8, 2013 earlier this year. On Wednesday, Universal Pictures delayed the film again, this time to Dec. 25, 2013, a full thirteen months after it was supposed to be in theaters.

The given reason for the delay is that some reshoots and effects work still need to be completed -- "47 Ronin" will be released in 3D -- but many industry watchers have speculated that other issues are at play. Variety reporter Jeff Sneider wrote as much on Twitter:

THR reporter Borys Kit also alluded to some more egregious behind-the-scenes issues.

With "47 Ronin" moving to Dec. 25, 2013, Universal has an opening on the calendar for Feb. 8, 2013. To fill the void, the studio bumped up Seth Gordon's new comedy "Identity Theft" to the date. That film stars Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy.

Reeves can be seen in the documentary "Side By Side," out in limited release this week with a nationwide VOD release to follow.

For more on "47 Ronin," head over to the Los Angeles Times.

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