Marvel Studios' release schedule is probably going to experience another shakeup due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Disney is reportedly likely to push back the release date of Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow for the second time.
Marvel Studios' Black Widow was scheduled to launch the official summer 2020 season on May 1 and while Disney initially planned to maintain the release date despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the pandemic eventually forced the company to push back the film to November 6, 2020. The date had previously been assigned to Marvel Studios' The Eternals and the decision to move Black Widow to the November slot forced the company the shift the rest of its Phase 4 schedule.
Now, Variety reports that multiple individuals with information on the matter are saying Disney is likely to push back Black Widow from November 6 and has yet to determine a potential new release date. According to the outlet, Disney is also weighing multiple release options for Pixar's Soul, which was originally scheduled to be released on June 19 before being delayed to November 20, 2020. The studio is said to be considering releasing Soul on Disney+, though an insider reportedly disputed these claims.
The likelihood of seeing Black Widow delayed again would arrive shortly after Warner Bros. pushed back Wonder Woman 1984 from October to Christmas day 2020. The studio reportedly made the decision after Christopher Nolan's Tenet opened to disappointing numbers at the U.S. box office.
Considering Disney never ended up boasting about the performance of the live-action Mulan on Disney+, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the remake failed to register with subscribers and the company may want to avoid a similar for fate for Black Widow. However, it could be argued that Marvel Studios has earned more goodwill from moviegoers than the live-action Disney remakes and Mulan also had the disadvantage of being mired in controversy.
Regardless of what Disney has planned for Black Widow, it appears the moviegoing experience won't be returning anytime soon. Warner Bros.' efforts to obscure the box office gross of Tenet have made it clear audiences are rushing to theaters in the numbers Hollywood was likely anticipating.
Black Widow is currently scheduled to be released on November 6, 2020.
Source: Variety