The battle of Snow White is heating up: Less than two weeks after Universal said it was releasing its "Snow White and the Huntsman" earlier than previously scheduled, Relativity Media moved its project forward.
Relativity's untitled "Snow White" film will be released March 16, 2012. It had been set to come out June 29.
But Universal, which is making a competing "Snow White" project, recently announced that instead of releasing its movie on Dec. 21, it would debut the picture on June 1.
Tuesday, Relativity announced it was moving its project's release date — and it'll still come out first.
They're both big movies: Universal's stars Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart (left) and Chris Hemsworth. Relativity's stars Julia Roberts, Lily Collins and Armie Hammer.
Relativity's project is about an evil queen, played by Roberts, who steals control of a kingdom. A princess, played by Collins (below, right), gets help from seven rebels to reclaim her birthright.
In Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman," Theron is the evil queen who hires a huntsman, played by Hemsworth, to kill Snow White, played by Stewart. Instead of killing Snow White, the huntsman teaches her how to survive.
Universal's project has had a bumpy road. The studio initially wanted Viggo Mortensen for the role of the Huntsman. When negotiations fell apart, it looked at Hugh Jackman before signing Hemsworth.
Hemsworth's a good get, though. He's now starring in "Thor," and his "The Avengers" will be released May 4 — a month before "Snow White and the Huntsman" now will come out.
Also Tuesday, Relativity announced the release dates for two other movies.
"Safe Haven," based on Nicholas Sparks' latest novel, will be in theaters June 1, 2012.
"Hunter Killer," directed by "Salt's" Phillip Noyce, will be out on Dec. 21, 2012.
