A strong reaction from early test screenings has prompted Lionsgate to push its upcoming adaptation of Wonder back to November, according to Variety.
Initially slated for theatrical release on April 7th, Stephen Chbosky’s star-studded drama will now open opposite Justice League on November 17th. Lionsgate is reportedly hoping to cater to a family-friendly audience with today’s switcheroo, after deeming the mid-November corridor more “commercially viable” than the film’s original due date. An early April release would have seen Wonder go up against the likes of Zach Braff’s Going in Style, The Case for Christ and Smurfs: The Lost Village which, incidentally, also features Julia Roberts in a prominent role.
When it comes to Wonder, Roberts will play the part of Isabel Pullman, the mother of the young August (Auggie) Pullman who struggles to assimilate into everyday life due to his unsightly facial deformity. It’s a condition that has prevented Auggie (Room breakout Jacob Tremblay) from attending mainstream education and, essentially, living a normal life. That all changes when Tremblay’s withdrawn protagonist enrolls at Beecher Prep. Owen Wilson, meanwhile, is on board as Auggie’s father, Nate Pullman.
Here’s the synopsis:
“August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school, until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?”
Wonder will now beckon moviegoers to North River Heights when Stephen Chbosky’s adaptation lights up the silver screen on November 17th. Jack Thorne and Steve Conrad are the brains behind the screenplay.