February 08, 2005 - Variety reports that a potential summer showdown between two presumed blockbusters has been averted. Fantastic Four had originally been scheduled to open July 1st. Its closest competition, Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, will bow June 29th.

Fantastic Four has now forsaken the Independence Day holiday window by shifting its release date to July 8th.

Instead of battling Martians at the box office, Fantastic Four will face supernatural opponents instead: the big-screen remake of the TV classic Bewitched (starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell) and the Kate Hudson thriller Skeleton Key.

"We are not running from War of the Worlds," Fox president of distribution Bruce Snyder advised The Hollywood Reporter. "This (new) date just works better for us."

Worldwide release dates for Fantastic Four can be found here.