Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice in WonderlandAre you looking forward to seeing Tim Burton's 3D extravaganza, Alice in Wonderland, when it's released on 5th March? Well don't pop down to your local Odeon cinema if you are because, well, it might not be playing there.

The cinema chain is currently in the midst of a row with Disney over the movie studio's plan to shorten the release window for Tim Burton's 3D adaptation to 12 weeks instead of the usual 17 week run that most films do. Disney's plan is to bring the film out on DVD and Blu-ray sooner in a move that the Odeon strongly opposes. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice in WonderlandAre you looking forward to seeing Tim Burton's 3D extravaganza, Alice in Wonderland, when it's released on 5th March? Well don't pop down to your local Odeon cinema if you are because, well, it might not be playing there.

The cinema chain is currently in the midst of a row with Disney over the movie studio's plan to shorten the release window for Tim Burton's 3D adaptation to 12 weeks instead of the usual 17 week run that most films do. Disney's plan is to bring the film out on DVD and Blu-ray sooner in a move that the Odeon strongly opposes.

Odeon fears that other movie studios may follow Disney's lead which would reduce the time they could make money from a film. Their argument is that cinema-goers may choose to wait this shorter period of time to pick up the DVD or Blu-ray rather than see the film at the cinema.

DVD sales are ultimately where the film studios make most of their money and Disney also believes that getting films on to DVD more quickly would help to beat piracy.

Disney tried a similar move to this last year when they attempted to shorten the release window of Up but were forced to back down down when cinemas said that they would drop both Up and A Christmas Carol. Currently, both rival cinema chains, Cineworld and Vue, have apparently reached an agreement with Disney over the Alice in Wonderland release.

It is understood that Odeon's current stance will not affect the film's Royal premiere this Thursday at the Odeon Leicester Square in London, to be attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. The film will also be shown in many European territories too such as Spain, Germany, Portugal and Austria where Disney will stick with the normal 17-week cinema run.

Alice in Wonderland is in cinemas from 5 March (we just don't know which cinemas...)