Universal has announced that they have moved the release date for the Tom Cruise film ‘Oblivion’ once again and now has the movie premiering one week earlier than scheduled.

Originally, ‘Oblivion’ was slated for a July 19th release but then was moved after the studio decided to give that date to ‘Jurrassic Park 3D,’ the 3D remastered version of the original ‘Jurassic Park’ film. ‘Oblivion’ was then relegated to April 26, 2013. Now Universal has moved the film’s release date once again to April 19th with an exclusive IMAX release from April 12th – 19th.

In a joint press release from IMAX and Universal, Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, commented on the move:

“IMAX differentiation has elicited strong reactions from moviegoers and has positively impacted box-office results. With the one-two punch of an early IMAX release window and the film’s expanded aspect ratio, we believe ‘Oblivion’ is the perfect kick-off to our 2013 summer slate.”

If you’re wondering what the difference between watching it on an IMAX screen versus a tradition one would be, the press release explains that basically the film will just be shown in a larger aspect ratio in key sequences as the film was not shot using IMAX cameras.

The move will now pit ‘Oblivion’ against ‘Evil Dead’ while during its exclusive release in IMAX theaters on April 12th, against ‘Scary Movie 5’ when it is released everywhere else on April 19th, and two weeks before ‘Iron Man 3.’

Considering ‘Oblivion’ is meant to be a tentpole film, it sounds like Universal is strategically making sure this blockbuster will dominate the box office hands down. The film is based on the graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski who is also helming the project.

Here’s the synopsis of the film:  

Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of TRON: Legacy and the producer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind.

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete.  Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

So what do you think of Universal shuffling ‘Oblivion’s’ release?