Release date delayed for 'The Ring 2'

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- DreamWorks has put off the release of "The Ring 2" from November to March due to production delays, Daily Variety said Friday.

Part of the problem is Noam Murro dropped out as director last March. The studio replaced him with Hideo Nakata, who directed "Ringu" -- the Japanese horror movie on which the 2002 U.S. box-office hit "The Ring" was based.

The switch necessitated a change in the production schedule, which then had to be coordinated with actress Naomi Watts' schedule.

Jim Tharp, head of DreamWorks distribution, told Variety the new release date will more or less coincide with high school and college spring holidays.