It looks like Wes Anderson’s animated adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox will actually be released under Fox’s Fox Searchlight “indie”-focused label. The film has recently test screened with the Fox Searchlight titlecard in front of the print. What does this mean? It could mean that Fox doesn’t have enough faith in the film financially to release it under the 20th Century Fox banner. On the other hand, Searchlight has a great track record of quality films and great marketing, while many would say the complete opposite about their big brother, 20th Century Fox.

Personally, I think it is for the film’s own good. A Searchlight release means that the film will probably get a ton of advance word of mouth screenings, and possibly even a gradual pre-release. The film is currently scheduled to hit theaters on November 13th in the States, but on October 22nd/23rd in UK and Russia, which might hint at a possible limited release in the States before the scheduled 13th date. But this is all just speculation on my part.

And rumor has it that the film’s trailer will be attached to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which opens July 1st 2009. No confirmation.