‘Black Widow’ Likely To Be Delayed By Disney, While Pixar’s ‘Soul’ May Be Released On Disney+
Black Widowmay have to go into hiding for a few more months. The long-awaitedBlack Widowmovie may be delayed once again asDisneyconsiders reshuffling its film slate in the wake of disappointingMulanbox office numbers. That reshuffling may also push the anticipated Pixar filmSoultoDisney+, where Disney has found success with its animated films amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Varietyreports that Disney will likely delay theBlack Widowrelease date once again, bumping the Marvel Studios film from its currentNovember 6release date. It will be just the latest delay forBlack Widowdue to the ongoing pandemic, which pushed the Scarlett Johansson comic book movie back from its initial May release date. It’s unknown when the newBlack Widowrelease date would be.
The studio is also reportedly “exploring” releasing Pixar’sSoulstraight to Disney+, which the House of Mouse has done for several films this year likeArtemis FowlandMulan, the latter for a premium price. But while the former (andnow the latter) were dropped on the streaming platforms to avoid a box office bomb, the release ofSoulon Disney+ will likely see more success along the lines of previous animated films released early to the service, likePixar’sOnwardandDisney’sFrozen II. Kids, after all, are mostly stuck at home. But it would be unfortunate that first major Black-led Pixar film starring a Black actor (Jamie Foxx) would be dropped straight to streaming without a chance at theaters (the same can be said of throwing the Asian-ledMulanto the dogs while Disney savesBlack Widowfor a later theatrical date).
Disney has released no comment on this report, but the Variety notes that the impendingBlack Widowdelay comes days afterWarner Bros. pushedWonder Woman 1984from its early October release to late December, while STX also moved the Gerard Butler thrillerGreenlandout of September, and Universal pushedCandymaninto 2021. Right now,No Time to Dieis the only major release left in November, and MGM could very well vacate that spot soon.
And of course, there’s themiddling box office performance ofTenet, which Warner Bros., Christopher Nolan, and industry experts hoped would revive theaters — 30% of which remain closed in the U.S., mostly in major markets like New York and California. Theaters aren’t going back to normal any time soon while the pandemic still rages on in the U.S., and studios are going to have to accept that fact.
It’s uncertain what the delay ofBlack Widowwould mean for the future Marvel slate, which includesThe Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings, andThor: Love and Thunder.
