Universal has pulled Extinction, a sci-fi film starring Michael Pena and Lizzy Caplan, from its release schedule without explanation.
The film had been set to open Jan. 26.
Extinction‘s logline describes it as a thriller in “which a man must save his family from an otherworldly phenomenon.” The pic was written by Eric Heisserer, Spenser Cohen and Bradley Caleb Kane. Despite the film previously being set for release just two months from now, no promotional materials have been unveiled for the title.
The Ben Young-directed movie was produced by Mandeville Films’ Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman. Extinction is Young’s second feature, following the 1980s-set abduction drama Hounds of Love. That low-budget film premiered in September at the Venice Film Festival, where it received strong reviews.
Young spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in May, seven days into his shoot in Serbia for Extinction. “It’s like nothing I’d ever read before,” the director said at the time. “It’s about a guy trying to redeem himself within his family in the midst of an alien invasion.”
Other nationwide releases scheduled for Extinction‘s previous January date include the Fox sequel The Maze Runner: The Death Cure and the Studio 8 drug drama White Boy Rick, starring Matthew McConaughey.
Universal’s upcoming films include Pitch Perfect 3 (set to bow Dec. 22), Insidious: The Last Key (Jan. 5) and Fifty Shades Freed (Feb. 9).
