Walt Disney Pictures has shifted its release plans for two upcoming 3D movies set to arrive in 2012. First up, Disney moved Tim Burton's Frankenweenie back from March 9, 2012 to October 5, 2012. Andrew Stanton's John Carter of Mars has moved up from June 8, 2012 to the open March 9, 2012 release date.

The release date switch is intriguing since we just reported last week that Fox is setting the Ridley Scott sci-fi project Prometheus with the same March 9, 2012 release date. The move also leaves a prime June 8, 2012 release date open. We'll have to see if another movie moves into that date.

It is also interesting that back in August, Disney set both Frankenweenie and John Carter of Mars release dates at the same time, a pattern they seem to be repeating with this move.