REAL STEEL Gets a Release Date

Hugh Jackman, DreamWorks, and Disney are set to have a very happy Thanksgiving on 2011.   According to The Hollywood Reporter, REAL STEEL, the first venture to be released by the new output deal between the two studios, will be released to the masses on November 18th, 2011.   This will be just in time for Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots to make a huge comeback before the Christmas buying season kicks into full swing.   That last bit was a joke…sort of.

Directed by NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM helmer Shawn Levy and based on a short story by Richard Matheson, REAL STEEL is set in a future world where robots have taken over the brutal sport of boxing from the humans.   Jackman will be playing a former boxer turned promoter who stumbles upon a robot who cannot lose.   There’s also a father/son element to it, which will make it perfect fodder for family entertainment after finishing up Thanksgiving dinner.

Also set to hit this date is George Miller’s follow-up to HAPPY FEET, which I’m guessing isn’t going to remain titled HAPPY FEET 2.   Being such dissimilar projects, I don’t see either of these films budging, and, unless another family drama with sci-fi elements decides to move into that spot, I’m going to assume the November 18th slot is pretty much set in stone for REAL STEEL.