DreamWorks, which originally planned to open "Shrek 2" on May 21, is bumping up the animated sequel's opening date by two days and now plans to launch the film May 19.

In a related development, the studio aims to whet its target audience's appetite for "Shrek 2" by sneak previewing the first five minutes of the movie May 18 on Nickelodeon. The 5-7 p.m. edition of Nickelodeon's "U Pick Live" block will be entirely "Shrek 2"-themed, including interviews with stars Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, leading up to the 7 p.m. airing of the movie snippet.

As studios maneuver for every advantage to position their summer tentpoles, Wednesday is becoming the new Friday. Sony Pictures said in March that it was bumping up its release of "Spider-Man 2" by two days. Originally scheduled to open Friday, July 2, "Spider-Man 2" is now set to open Wednesday, June 30.

DreamWorks said its latest move is a response to audience demand for the movie. Advance sale tickets via the Internet will begin Friday.

"The response to early screenings has been wonderful, so we thought this would be a great way to meet the demand to see the movie and to give audiences a way to guarantee having tickets in hand when they get to the theater," DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp said.

The "Shrek 2" move will put a bit of a squeeze on Warner Bros. Pictures' "Troy," which has staked out the previous weekend, opening May 14. However, the R-rated "Troy" will be playing to a different audience than that for the PG-rated "Shrek 2."