With Disney/Pixar’s CARS being pushed back from Nov. 4, 2005, to June 2006, to maximize profits, Disney confirmed that the 3D-animated CHICKEN LITTLE, formerly a summer 2005 title, would now slide into the vacated Nov. 4 slot. Disney already has next summer covered with two live-action movies, THE LOVE BUG and SKY HIGH.

Meanwhile, DreamWorks has pushed back SHREK 3 from November 2006 to May 2007 to similarly maximize profits, and has scheduled FLUSHED AWAY, its rat in a London sewer movie, to November 2006. Pixar, it should be noted, is currently in pre-production on RATATOUILLE, its first solo effort, about a rat that inhabits an upscale Parisian restaurant, directed by Jan Pinkava (GERI’S GAME).