Dave Bautistawon’t have two comedies coming out within two months of each other after all. Ahead of this weekend’s release of the buddy comedyStuber, in which Bautista stars oppositeKumail Nanjiani, STXfilms has pulledMy Spyfrom its August 23rd release date. A new release date for the film is not yet set, as it’s simply been given a TBA date in Q1 of 2020.
My Spyfinds Bautista playing a CIA agent who’s forced to team up with a 9-year-old-girl when he’s tasked with watching her family.Stuber, meanwhile, finds Bautista playing an LAPD detective who reluctantly joins forces with an Uber driver to catch a notorious drug lord. Both films find Bautista playing a law enforcement official, both films find him in unusual pairings, and both are buddy comedies. So you’re able to see why STXfilms might want to put a little distance between their movie andStuber.
No official reason was given for the move, but Deadline says it has to do with putting distance between the two films and allowing Bautista the time to do press for both. While STXfilms had a hit with this January’sThe Upside—which grossed $122 million worldwide—the studio’s other three 2019 films stumbled:The Best of Enemiesgrossed only $10.2 million, the comedyPomsfaltered with $15.3 million, and the expensive animated featureUgly Dollswas a flop with just $26.6 million. The studio needs a hit, so it makes sense they’d want to verify they’re settingMy Spyup for success. Still to come on the 2019 docket arePlaymobil: The Movieopening August 30th, the stripper-centricHustlers, and theRusso Brothers-produced crime drama21 Bridges.
The bigger question is why thisMy Spymove wasn’t made earlier, but perhaps early positive word onStuberhas the studio convinced folks won’t want to roll the dice on a second Dave Bautista comedy in under two months. Better late than never I suppose.
Next up for Bautista isDune, which hits theaters next year, and he’s about to start shootingZack Snyder’s Netflix zombie movieArmy of the Dead.
