Universal has pushed back Tom Hardy’s gangster movie “Legend” from early October to late November following a muted reception at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Originally slated to open on Oct. 2, Universal will now release the film in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 20 before it expands to additional U.S. markets on both Nov. 25 and Dec. 11.
“Legend” was initially scheduled to open against Matt Damon’s “The Martian” and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s 3D drama “The Walk.” But another film may have factored into the decision — Johnny Depp’s gangster movie “Black Mass,” which hits theaters this Friday, just two weeks before “Legend” would have opened. It will now go head-to-head with the Weinstein Company’s “Carol” in limited release, as well as the wide releases of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” and “The Secret in Their Eyes.”
Brian Helgeland directed “Legend,” which details the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ronnie Kray, both portrayed by Hardy, who earned better reviews than the film did on the fall festival circuit.
The film, which was produced by Studiocanal, Working Title and Cross Creek, co-stars Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Duffy, Christopher Eccleston and Chazz Palminteri. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner produced “Legend” alongside Chris Clark, Quentin Curtis and Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver.
