Marvel Studios recently announced that its Scarlett Johansson-led feature, Black Widow, will be hiding out not just from Secretary Ross, but also from the terrifying appendages that extend from the Coronavirus outbreak. The tentpole film, which was set to open in May, has been pushed back indefinitely. As you may have heard, a number of Disney titles have suffered a similar fate within the past two weeks as Hollywood goes on a shutdown during this crisis.
Here is a list of films and projects under the Disney umbrella that have been postponed due to the global pandemic.
Feature Films
Black Widow (Marvel Studios)
Original release date: May 1, 2020 (wide)
New date: TBD
The Woman in the Window (20th Century Studios)
Original release date: May 8, 2020 (wide)
New date: TBD
Mulan (Disney)
Original release date: March 27,2020 (wide)
New date: TBD
New Mutants (20th Century Studios)
Original release date: April 3, 2020 (wide)
New date: TBD
Antlers (Searchlight)
Original release date: April 3, 2020 (wide)
New date: TBD
Films in Development
• Avatar sequels
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Little Mermaid
• Pan and Wendy
• The Last Duel
• Nightmare Alley
• Vacation Friends
• Shrunk
• Peter Pan & Wendy
• Home Alone
Disney+ Series in Development
• Big Shot
• Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• WandaVision
• Loki
Can somebody please summon Thor to soothe us with that “Sun’s-getting-real-low” lullaby? Summer is on its way to getting (weeps*)… cancelled.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Disney is not the only corporation to suffer setbacks from the pandemic as Universal, Sony, and Netflix have all been scrambling to safety, suspending productions, and manoeuvring around release dates. However, in terms of Disney releases, particularly Marvel’s, there might be particularly challenging implications.
What happens now that Black Widow has been pushed back? Will it still zap toward a summer 2020 release (assuming the COVID-19 situation clears up by then), or will it settle for a November slate? How will this affect the continuity of the interconnected mega-franchise? Is Black Widow a stand-alone narrative? Without a doubt, these are all questions that the studio has to take into consideration as the franchise moves into Phase Four.
Make no mistake, franchise continuity is not a major concern when juxtaposed with box-office woes, production insecurities, and the very concerned lives of individuals around the globe. However, it could pose a threat to the interconnectivity of the MCU, potentially triggering an unravelling of narrative threads, which might translate into a negative reception from audiences and fans alike.
Furthermore, the Disney is losing out big time due to the fact that Disney+ is not available yet in many nations (including Malaysia). Content on the streaming platform is limited (according to subscribers) despite the vast library; new content has not been rolling out swiftly enough, and that’s where the studio currently finds itself in a pickle as more people are choosing to stay home… alone.
Right now, Jungle Cruise, Artemis Fowl, and Pixar’s Soul are barely hanging to the Disney summer menu. We might have to press “F” to pay our respects soon, as Dwayne Johnson and the fairies prepare to enter the Great Beyond.
“I assure you, brother, the sun will shine on us again…” – Loki (Avengers: Infinity War)
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