With the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, many of the cinema’s anticipated blockbusters are delaying their release dates. After Disney and Pixar’s Onward underperformed during its opening weekend in the box office, many are attributing it to the spread of the Coronavirus and fears for public health. Because of this, production studios are exercising caution with the timing of new blockbusters’ release dates. Here is a list of the films delayed thus far (as well as one that is still on schedule at the moment).
Update: Due to the rapidly-changing situation of the coronavirus epidemic, two of the movies on this list that were correctly stated to be on schedule at the time of writing have unfortunately had their release dates altered.
Delayed: A Quiet Place Part II
As of March 12, 2020, John Krasinski has posted a tweet on his Twitter page that his latest film, A Quiet Place Part II, will have a delayed release date. The tweet is somberly optimistic, as Krasinski explains that the current release time would prohibit everyone to see the films and that his latest directorial film is one that he wants everyone to have the ability to view.
While the film had its original release date on March 8, 2020, the global theatrical release was set to be March 18, 2020; however, it is now delayed without mention of the new date of release.
Delayed: New Mutants
New Mutants is a film based on the Marvel comic of the same name. It is centered around 5 mutants, Wolfsbane (Maisie Williams), Cannonball (Charlie Heaton), Magik (Anya Taylor-Joy), Mirage (Blu Hunt), and Sunspot (Henry Zaga), who fight to escape their imprisonment. With many films already delayed due to the Cornovirus outbreak, Marvel remained steadfast that the release date would finally remain constant after a number of reschedules but, alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
Marvel Entertainment has finally decided to delay New Mutants once again and there is currently no replacement date set for the beleaguered comic book movie.
Delayed: No Time to Die
It looks like audiences will have to wait a while longer to see the 25th installment of the James Bond franchise on the silver screen. Alongside many other highly-anticipated films approaching their release dates in theatres, No Time to Die, starring Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, and Rami Malek, has been delayed.
Originally set for a release date of April 10, 2020, in the United States of America, No Time to Die has since been pushed back for a November 25, 2020 release in the USA (and November 12, 2020, for the United Kingdom).
Delayed: Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Sony’s latest production, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, is the sequel to an internationally-driven box office success. Because of this, it makes sense for the Sony production studio to assume the sequel would also pull most of its revenue outside of the United States box office. However, many theatres outside of the United States of America are closing, for the time being, such is the case in China, Italy, Poland, India, and Lebanon. Due to the dependency of international sales amid an international health pandemic, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway‘s release has been delayed in hopes of arriving in a more stable box office environment.
Originally set to release into theatres March 27, 2020, in the United Kingdom and April 3 internationally, the delayed release date of Sony’s Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is August 7, 2020, worldwide.
On Schedule: Black Widow
Marvel Studios has yet to delay Black Widow’s, origin story aptly titled: Black Widow. Marvel Studios has pushed against the current waves of cinematic delays and has been keeping anticipated blockbuster’s release day concrete, instead of delaying it. While the studio has not mentioned delaying the film’s release, there is some speculation that the film could be delayed amid the delay of other blockbuster films, such as A Quiet Place Part II.
Note: Some online sources claim April 24, 2020, is the current release day for Black Widow; this is incorrect information. The error on Wikipedia has since been corrected, though as the article states, it may take some time before Google can fully update. The Avenger origin story is set to release May 1, 2020.
Delayed: Fast and Furious 9 (F9)
Universal Pictures announced via a tweet from the F9 Twitter page that the delay for the latest addition to the Fast and Furious franchise will span almost the length of a full year. According to the announcement, this decision was made with concerns regarding the safety of the franchise’s followers and moviegoers. The announcement remains hopeful amid the health crisis and looks forward to its global premiere, with the final line saying, “We’ll see you next Spring.” Originally set to release May 12, 2020, Fast and Furious 9 is now scheduled to release April 2, 2021.
Unfortunately for the franchise’s fans, Fast and Furious 9 won’t zoom into theatres anytime soon.
Delayed: The Lovebirds
Due to increasing health concerns regarding the Coronavirus, Paramount pictures has taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of moviegoers. Originally scheduled for an April 3, 2020 release date, Paramount has decided to delay the release of The Lovebirds.
The Lovebirds has not announced the updated release date.
Delayed: Mulan
Disney’s release date for the latest live-action revival of a Disney Princess has been impacted by the Coronavirus, originally only in select countries. For a time, the release date of March 27, 2020, remained secure in most territories. Due to movie theatres closing in China because of the global pandemic, Mulan was always unlikely to release at the same time in Chinese cinemas. The European red carpet premiere was then canceled, as well. However, for a time, it appeared that the release date for European theatres would not be impacted.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case and Disney has decided to postpone its global release.
Delayed: Blue Story
Not only has Paramount delayed the release of The Lovebirds, but the production studio has also delayed the release of their low-budget film, Blue Story.
Originally set for a March 20, 2020 release, the film has yet to show on the silver screen. There has not been a new release date set, as of yet.
