'Thor 2' Pushed From July To November 2013 [Updated]

Now that Disney is moving forward with Lone Ranger, even giving the movie a revised release date (May 31, 2013 — more on that movie in a few minutes) the studio is moving some other things around. Most notably, Disney has pushed Thor 2 back from July 26 2013 to November 15, 2013. That July 26 date isn't going to be devoid of Disney product, however, as the studio will stick Phineas and Ferb in there.

Update: Patty Jenkins has been confirmed as the director of Thor 2. The press release has been added below.

Is the Thor 2 move related simply to the new proximity of Lone Ranger? Probably not, as July 2013 is already pretty crowded with tentpole films, including Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse, Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, and Joseph Kosinski's Horizons. All those are set to open before Thor 2 would have, perhaps leaving an exhausted audience for Marvel's hammer-iffic sequel. Phineas and Ferb will end up being a sort of family counter-programming option.

Pushing a movie like Thor 2 into November is interesting, but not unheard of, since Harry Potter and Twilight have already staked out November releases in the past. Patty Jenkins is slated to direct Thor 2, with Chris Hemsworth returning as Marvel's blond god.

Update: Here's the press release announcing Jenkins as director.

Marvel Studios announced today that Patty Jenkins will direct THOR 2, which will be released in theatres on Friday, November 15, 2013. Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman will return to star in the film along with Tom Hiddleston. Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige will produce the sequel to this summer's blockbuster THOR, which has grossed over $448 million worldwide to date.Patty Jenkins previously directed MONSTER starring Charlize Theron, who won an Academy Award® for her performance in the film. Jenkins, who received an Emmy nomination for directing the pilot of AMC's acclaimed series The Killing, has also directed episodes of Entourage and Arrested Development. Most recently, she directed "Pearl," one of the five short films that comprise Lifetime's original movie FIVE.In addition to THOR 2, Marvel Studios is currently scheduled to release MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS on May 4, 2012, and IRON MAN 3 which is slated for release on May 3, 2013.