Halifax-born actress Ellen Page has dropped out of horror film Drag Me to Hell because of a scheduling conflict.

Drag Me to Hell, to be directed by Sam Raimi, who helmed Spider-Man, has had to push back its production date, formerly set for March 17.

That date had been set to accommodate Page's schedule, and to come in ahead of a potential actors' strike, which could start in June.

"But like so many other productions trying to start before the potential SAG strike date, this one needed more time and we had to push back the start of production," Ghost House Pictures, Raimi's producer, said in a statement.

Page had been scheduled to play a woman under a curse in Drag Me to Hell.

She has a full slate after achieving critical acclaim for her role as the pregnant teen in Juno.

Page has two other projects lined up — Whip It! a roller derby comedy being directed by Drew Barrymore, and Peacock, a thriller starring Cillian Murphy.

She was unable to work both Whip It! and Drag Me to Hell into her schedule, as she must undergo intense physical training for the role of a teen roller queen in the movie based on the book Derby Girl.

The Screen Actors Guild's labour contract expires June 30, and Hollywood filmmakers are anxious to either finish before then, or to postpone filming until well after any walkout.

SAG wants improved compensation for electronic rights for the actors, and there are fears talks could stall on the issue.