Move aside Thanos, we have a greater Big Bad in town. As coronavirus rages on, film productions are shutting down with individual films being delayed subsequently. These cancellations and delays will undoubtedly have catastrophic impact and may very well reshape popular culture and its economic model as we know it.
The health of people around the world remains the most important thing, but these shutdowns affect more than just film studios. Cinema closures are a mere sign of the disruption coronavirus is wrecking upon people and businesses around the globe.
We at The Cultured are keeping an updated list of the various movies that have been delayed.
No Time to Die
No Time to Die was the first major movie to delay release due to coronavirus. Directed by Cary Fukunaga and co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, No Time to Die marks Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007. Fearing that the closure of many theatres around the world would harm its performance at the box office, MGM and Universal opted to delay the film until November 2020. The delay was announced on 4 March, and a week later, after the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic, other blockbusters began to follow suit.
Original release date: April 2020
New release date: 12 November 2020 (UK) / 25 November 2020 (USA)
Read more: No Time to Die Delayed due to Coronavirus
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Originally scheduled to open in the U.K. on March 27, Sony announced that the Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is postponed until August 7. The first Peter Rabbit film, which was released two years ago, made more than $350m at worldwide box offices, two-thirds of which came outside North America.
Original release date: March 2020
New release date: 28 January 2021
A Quiet Place Part II
Paramount and John Krasinski recently announced that they’re pushing his horror movie sequel, A Quiet Place Part II, back from its previous March 20 release date to an unspecified month later in 2020. As per the studio’s explanation in their statement, “We look forward to bringing this film to audiences this year once we have a better understanding of the impact of this pandemic on the global theatrical marketplace.”
Original release date: March 2020
New release date: 23 April 2021
Fast & Furious 9
On the same day A Quiet Place 2 was postponed, Universal officially shifted Fast & Furious 9 back a full year to April 2, 2021. Known for its massive global audience, The Fast Saga’s seventh and eighth mainline entries grossed more than $1 billion outside of the U.S. With that kind of profit on the line, it’s no wonder Universal opted to move the film as far back as a whole year.
Original release date: May 2020
New release date: 1 April 2021
Mulan
Undoubtedly one of the highest anticipated blockbusters of the year, Disney’s Mulan has been delayed as well. The mouse house announced it was moving the film’s release out of an abundance of caution. The film, a live-action remake of the beloved 1998 animated film about a Chinese female warrior, was set to debut in North America on March 27. According to Disney, the film powerhouse is looking at new potential release dates for various films (more on that later).
Original release date: March 2020
New release date: TBA
The New Mutants
Perhaps the most troubled movie ever to go into production in recent memory, The New Mutants has now been postponed indefinitely. The X-Men spin-off was originally slated for a 2018 release, and had already been postponed multiple times when Disney acquired Fox, which led to a third delay. The severity of coronavirus led the comic book film to be delayed for the fourth time.
Original release date: April 2020
New release date: TBA
Antlers
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Antlers has been officially removed from Disney’s original release slate, about a month before it was due to open in April. While the Searchlight Pictures production doesn’t have as much to lose from a poor commercial performance in comparison to the various films on the list (due to its lower budget), there’s really no benefit for Disney to release Antlers as planned.
Original release date: April 2020
New release date: 19 February 2021
Black Widow
Black Widow, the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has been postponed. Originally set to hit theaters on May 1, Disney announced the film’s delay on Tuesday. In addition to Johansson, Black Widow also stars Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone and Rachel Weisz. It was directed by Cate Shortland and follows Natasha Romanoff in the events after Captain America: Civil War.
Original release date: 1 May 2020
New release date: TBA
The Personal History of David Copperfield
The Personal History of David Copperfield depicts the story of Charles Dickens’ remarkable character David Copperfield, giving the tale new life for a cosmopolitan age with a diverse ensemble cast of stage and screen actors from across the world. The film stars Oscar nominee Dev Patel as David Copperfield, Oscar winner Tilda Swinton as Betsey Trotwood, and Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie as Mr. Dick.
Original release date: May 2020
New release date: 28 August 2020
The Woman in the Window
In The Woman in the Window, an agoraphobic child psychologist befriends a neighbor across the street from her New York City brownstone, only to see her own life turned upside down when the woman disappears and she suspects foul play. A stellar ensemble cast brings Tracy Letts’ screenplay based on the gripping, best-selling novel to life, where shocking secrets are revealed, and no one-and nothing-is what it seems.
The film features an A-list ensemble that includes five time Academy-Award nominee Amy Adams，Julianne Moore and Gary Oldman.
Original release date: May 2020
New release date: TBA
Wonder Woman 1984
Warner Bros. is postponing Diana Prince’s return to the big screen. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wonder Woman 1984 will now hit cinemas on August 14 instead of June 5. Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot tweeted, “In these dark and scary times, I am looking forward to a brighter future ahead where we can share the power of cinema together again.”
Original release date: 5 June 2020
New release date: 14 August 2020
In the Heights
Directed by John M. Chu, In the Heights is the eagerly awaited film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Tony-winning musical In the Heights, which was scheduled for June 26. On Twitter, Miranda promised that the film they shot in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood will have its premiere uptown, “when we can safely gather again, flags in hand.”
Original release date: 26 June 2020
New release date: TBA
Scoob!
In addition to Wonder Woman 1984 and In the Heights, Warner Bros. also delayed the release of the animated feature Scoob! amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Scooby Doo film, which stars an ensemble voice cast including Mark Wahlberg and Zac Efron, was slated for a May 15 release.
Original release date: 15 May 2020
New release date: TBA
The Eternals
After an unexpected tragedy following the events of Avengers: Endgame, the Eternals — an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years, reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
In April 2018, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced that a film based on the Eternals had begun development, with Matthew and Ryan Firpo hired to write the script for the project in May 2018. Directed by Chloe Zhao, The Eternals has completed principal photography and is on post-production.
Original release date: 6 November 2020
New release date: 12 February 2021
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead. The film’s title and primary cast were announced that July, revealing the film’s connection to the Mandarin and his Ten Rings organization, a terrorist group that have made several appearances throughout the MCU. Simu Liu has been cast as the titular Shang-Chi and Tony Leung as The Mandarin. Destin Daniel Cretton is directing from a script by Dave Callaham.
Original release date: 12 February 2021
New release date: 7 May 2021
Spider-Man 3
While the next Spider-Man movie doesn’t have a title yet, it’s happening. The untitled Spider-Man movie is the third installment in the relaunched franchise starring Tom Holland as the web-slinging superhero after Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). According to THR, Sony and Marvel Studios are delaying the release of the next Spider-Man installment from July 16, 2021, to Nov. 5, 2021.
Original release date: 16 July 2021
New release date: 17 December 2021
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Minutes after the Sony announcement, Disney and Marvel Studios pushed back the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness from the same date of Nov. 5, 2021 to March 25, 2022. Not only is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness a sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange, it will also tie heavily into Disney Plus’ WandaVision. Scott Derrickson was originally set to return to the directing chair. However, Derrickson parted ways with the film back in January, citing “creative differences” with Marvel Studios.
Original release date: 5 November 2021
New release date: 25 March 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder
In addition, Disney is also moving up the release of Thor: Love and Thunder from Feb. 18, 2022 to Feb. 11, 2022. Following the immense success of Thor: Ragnarok, it seems like the Revengers are back. On top of our band of returning characters like Thor and Valkryie, Natalie Portman will also mark her return to the franchise as Jane Foster (this time as the new Thor). What’s the cherry on top you ask? Christian Bale has also joined the cast.
Original release date: 18 February 2022
New release date: 11 February 2022
Fatherhood
Fatherhood is based on a true story and the book by Matt Logelin, whose wife died shortly after childbirth, leaving him to raise their daughter, Maddy, on his own. Kevin Hart has signed on to star in the film.
Original release date: 23 October 2020
New release date: 1 April 2021
Morbius
Fresh off the success of 2017’s Venom and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Sony’s Marvel Universe continues with Morbius. Starring Academy Award winner Jared Leto, Morbius tells the story of Michael Morbious’ transformation into the enigmatic antihero often associated with your friendly neighborhood you-know-who.
Original release date: 31 July 2020
New release date: 18 March 2021
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Set thirty years after the original Ghostbusters films, a family moves to a small town, where they discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and their grandfather’s secret legacy. Director Jason Reitman has stated the film will ignore the events of 2016’s disastrous reboot, stating in a podcast that he aimed to “hand the movie back to the fans”.
Original release date: 10 July 2020
New release date: 4 March 2021
Uncharted
Sony’s long-gestating Uncharted movie is set to star Tom Holland as a young Nathan Drake. Based on smash hit video game series, the Uncharted video games are known for its great adventures and gripping storytelling, following a treasure-hunter as he sets out to uncover the truth behind various historical mysteries over several installments.
Original release date: 5 March 2021
New release date: 15 July 2021
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Sony recently revealed the title their highly anticipated Venom sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which will put Tom Hardy‘s Eddie Brock/Venom against the Marvel supervillain known as Carnage.The Venom sequel was expected to hit theatres 2 October 2020 and will instead launch eight months later on 25 June 2021 due to the coronavirus. Venom occupied the spot previously vacated by Robert Pattinson’s The Batman.
Original release date: 2 October 2020
New release date: 24 June 2021
The Batman
Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which is currently stalled in London, will no longer open on June 25, 2021 next summer, but rather in the first weekend of October next year, October 1, a slot made famous by DC’s R-rated The Joker. According to THR, Reeves revealed that once it’s safe to resume production, the plan is to finish The Batman in London instead of re-locating.
Original release date: 25 June 2021
New release date: 1 October 2021
The Flash
The Flash has been scheduled to release a month earlier in 2022, debuting on June 3, a date that Warner Bros. reserved, instead of July 1 that year. However, many fans are speculating on whether the studio would outright cancel The Flash following the controversial video from two weeks ago that showed Ezra Miller choking a female fan.
Original release date: 1 July 2022
New release date: 3 June 2022
Shazam 2!
Last year’s Shazam! proved a particularly winning addition to the DCEU, continuing the victory streak of Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Naturally, a sequel is in development. However, following the film’s delay due to the coronavirus, the filmmakers would have to deal with the issue of young actors inevitably growing faster than the parts they’re playing. Shazam 2!, which was dated on April 1, 2022, now goes on November 4 of that year.
Original release date: 1 April 2022
New release date: 4 November 2022
Untitled Elvis Presley Project
An upcoming biographical film centering the story of Elvis Presley is in development. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the untitled film will star Austin Butler as the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley project had the October 1 date, and will now go a month later on November 5, 2021, going toe-to-toe against Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Original release date: 1 October 2021
New release date: 5 November 2021
The Many Saints Of Newark
The Many Saints Of Newark is the prequel film to HBO’s critically acclaimed series. The Sopranos. The film stars Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Joey Diaz, Michael Gandolfini and Ray Liotta. The Sopranos prequel was initially scheduled to be released on September 25, 2020. However, it has been rescheduled to March 12, 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Original release date: 25 September 2020
New release date: 12 March 2021
King Richard
King Richard is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. Starring Will Smith, the biographical film depicts the story of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams on their journey to become who they are after the coaching from their father, Richard Williams.
Original release date: 25 November 2020
New release date: 19 November 2021
Read more: 20 Biggest Movies to Watch in 2020
