Disney Shifts Release Dates For 'Black Widow,' 'Cruella,' And More
As the movie theater industry continues to recover slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic that caused financial chaos in 2020, Hollywood is still hesitant to release its $100 million to $200 million+ potential blockbuster films into cinemas.
On March 24, 2021, Disney shocked the world by rearranging its film slate with films like the Emma Stone-starring Cruella, Marvel's Black Widow, Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Pixar's Luca among others for either a straight to Disney+ release, a hybrid release (Disney+ and theatrical), or moving to a new date for the time being.
Black Widow and Cruella are now the latest films following recent hybrid releases like Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon that will now premiere on Disney+ and theaters at the same time.Cruella, an upcoming American crime comedy-drama film based on the character Cruella de Vil, introduced in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, and Disney's 1961 animated film 101 Dalmatians, is still scheduled for release on May 28. Meanwhile, Black Widow, which stars Scarlett Johansson and takes place after the events of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, has been pushed back two months from May 7 to July 9. This is its third time being moved. The two titles will be offered on Premiere Access at a $30 rental fee.
The latest move for Black Widow is forcing Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, originally set for early July, to be moved to September 3. For the moment, Shang-Chi is expected to have a traditional theatrical release.
Elsewhere, Pixar’s original animated adventure Luca will not be playing in theaters, but rather be Disney+ exclusive, with no Premiere Access tier, on June 18.
For those who are still fans of theatrical films hitting theatres first before home media, Disney will not ditch theaters entirely. Smaller titles that were inherited from 20th Century Fox/Studios and put on indefinite hold will finally be released, like Free Guy (August 13), The King's Man (December 22), “Deep Water” (January 14, 2022) and Death on the Nile (February 11, 2022).
The chairman of Disney Media and Entertainment distribution, Kareem Daniel, states that the announcement “reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences.”
“By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world.”
Many film exhibitors and studio executives are being more optimistic recently since movie theaters in Los Angeles and New York City that have reopened with capacity are being capped at 25%. What the capping is doing is restricting ticket sales for big-budgeted films to turn a profit in theaters without relying on streaming platforms.
Take films from Marvel Studios, which normally cost over $200 million to produce, while non-franchise films like Raya and the Last Dragon, in theaters and on Disney+ for a premium fee, has made $23.4 million in the U.S. and $71 million globally, which is modest by pandemic standards.
The U.S. market is recovering, and it’s a good thing for studios, but it would be financially detrimental for tentpoles like Black Widow and Shang-Chi to replicate those results.
Film studios aren’t being overly cautious of the upcoming 2021 summer movie season entirely like in 2020. Disney and their rivals are betting that the general public will feel more comfortable and confident about returning to the movies, as more and more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and it becomes more available starting May 1, 2021.
Source(s): Variety