LOOK: Movies delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic
[UPDATED as of April 8, 2020]: With many countries imposing community quarantines or lockdowns, cinemas have been forced to close for the time being. Thus, release dates of movies have been pushed back. See if your anticipated movie already has a new premiere date HERE:
Mulan
Mulan was scheduled for a March 25 release in the Philippines, a few days earlier than in other countries. On March 13, Mulan Director Niki Caro announced that the movie would be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will now premiere on July 24, 2020.
Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 was originally scheduled for a June 5 premiere; but on March 24, lead star Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins announced that it will be pushed back to August 14.
No Time to Die
The 25th installment of the James Bond franchise, No Time to Die, was supposed to hit theaters worldwide in April. However, on March 4, it was announced that the movie's release date has been rescheduled to November 12 in the U.K.; and at later dates for other countries like the US, where it's scheduled for a November 25 premiere.
Fast 9
The release date of the latest film in the Fast and Furious franchise has been moved next year. Fast 9 will now open in theaters on April 2, 2021.
Black Widow
Black Widow was scheduled for a May 1 premiere this year. Due to the COVID-19 situation, it will now be released on November 6, 2020. Black Widow's new release date will affect the other installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, pushing back the release of movies like The Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange 2, and Thor: Love and Thunder.
Little Mermaid
Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid halted production earlier this month. They were originally targeting a 2021 release, but since production was postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, there's no word yet on what the film's future will be.
Jurassic Park: Dominion
The sixth film in the Jurassic Park franchise was formerly set to be released on June 11, 2021. But on March 13, production of the movie was put on hold due to the ongoing Coronavirus health crisis. No announcement yet on when production will resume and if the original release date will be pushed back or not.
The Batman
Production for 'The Batman,' starring Robert Pattinson, had been ongoing for seven weeks in the U.K. before it was halted due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The movie was expected to hit theaters on June 25, 2021 but will now be released on October 1, 2021.
A Quiet Place Part II
The sequel to A Quiet Place already had its world premier in New York last March 8, and it was scheduled for commercial release in the latter part of March. However, on March 13, Paramount Pictures announced that its worldwide release would be pushed back due to the continued threat of the Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19. No new dates have been announced yet.
The New Mutants
The X-men spin-off movie had been rescheduled four times in two years. Its original release date for the year 2020 was on April 3. However, it has to be postponed again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new premiere date has yet to be announced.
Matrix 4
The fourth installment in the Matrix franchise was set to be released on May 21, 2021 - which was dubbed by fans as Keanu Day, since lead actor Keanu Reeves has two movies scheduled to premiere on that day. But, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, Warner Brothers had decided to halt production of the film. No word yet on whether this would affect its release date.
John Wick 4
John Wick 4 is the other Keanu Reeves movie originally scheduled to open in theaters on May 21, 2021. Lionsgate has announced that its premiere date will now be on May 27, 2022.
Fantastic Beasts 3
The third installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' franchise was supposed to begin shooting on March 16. But, just a day before, it was announced that production will be halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's not clear yet whether it will stick to its original schedule of release on November 2021.
Untitled Elvis Presley biopic
The untitled Elvis Presley biopic being filmed in Australia had to stop production when one of its stars, actor Tom Hanks, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11. The movie is scheduled for release on October 1, 2021 but will now hit theaters on November 5, 2021.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, the live-action/CGI film featuring the voices of James Corden and Margot Robbie, was initially scheduled for a March 27 premiere in the UK, and a week later in the US. However, its release date has now been pushed to August 7.
The Lovebirds
The Lovebirds was originally scheduled to be released on April 3 in cinemas, but has now been reportedly picked up by Netflix. They have yet to announce a streaming date.
Trolls World Tour
Cinemas worldwide have shut down temporarily due to the Coronavirus pandemic. And since the reopening of business establishments is full of uncertainty, it has been announced that Trolls World Tour will now be available for rental on digital platforms on April 10, the same day as its scheduled theatrical release date.
Antebellum
Antebellum is a horror-drama film starring singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe as its lead character, Veronica Henley. It was formerly set to open in theaters on April 24, but has now been moved to an August 21, 2020 release date.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the fourth film from the Ghostbusters franchise, was originally scheduled for release on July 10, 2020, but will now premiere next year, March 5, 2021.
Morbius
Morbius, the Spider-Man spin off starring Jared Leto as a vampire set to be released on July 31, 2020, will now hit cinemas on March 19, 2021.
Uncharted
Uncharted, a video game adaptation starring Tom Holland, was about to start filming when Hollywood studios closed down due to the COVID-19 situation. It was scheduled to be released on March 5, 2021, pushed back to October 8, 2021 then pushed forward again to July 16, 2021.
Top Gun: Maverick
The release of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' sequel to 1986 action drama film 'Top Gun' starring Tom Cruise, has been pushed back to December 23, 2020. It was originally scheduled to premiere on June 24, 2020.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
Animated film 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,' based on the popular 'Spongebob Squarepants' cartoon series, has moved its release from May 22, 2020 to July 31, 2020.
The Tomorrow War
Science fiction and fantasy film 'The Tomorrow War' starring Chris Pratt is also delaying its release. It was previously scheduled for December 25, 2020 but no announcement has been made about when it will premiere.
Free Guy
Ryan Reynold's sci-fi action comedy film Free Guy was supposed to open in cinemas on July 3, 2020. But it has now been moved to a December 11, 2020 release date.
Jungle Cruise
The Disney adventure film Jungle Cruise, starring Emily Blunt and The Rock, was originally scheduled for a July 24, 2020 release. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has been rescheduled to hit theaters on July 30, 2021.
The Eternals
The Eternals, one of Marvel and Disney's most anticipated movies of the year, was expected to open in cinemas on November 6, 2020. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now been moved to a release date of February 12, 2021.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor: Love and Thunder, the fourth movie in the Thor saga, was previously scheduled for a November 5, 2021 world premiere. It has now been moved to a February 11, 2022 release date.
The Many Saints of Newark
The 'Many Saints of Newark' is a prequel to the hit crime drama series 'The Sopranos.' It was scheduled to be released on September 25, 2020 but has now been moved to March 12, 2021.
Warner Bros.
Shazam 2
A yet untitled sequel to 'Shazam' starring Zachary Levi has been delayed by seven months. The release date has been moved from April 1, 2022 to November 4, 2022.
King Richard
Biological sports drama film King Richard was pushed back by a year, from November 25, 2020 to November 19, 2021. The movie stars Will Smith as the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
Spider-Man sequels
The planned sequel to Spider-Man Far From Home has moved its release date to November 5, 2021. It was originally scheduled to premiere on July 16, 2021. Meanwhile, the follow up to animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has been moved from April 8, 2022, to October 7, 2022.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which sees Benedict Cumberbatch reprise his role of Doctor Strange, was slated to have a May 2021 release date but was pushed back to November 5, 2021 and further delayed to March 25, 2022.
Spiral
The release date of American horror film Spiral has been moved from May 15, 2020 to its new schedule of May 21, 2021. The movie stars Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson.The film's story was conceptualized by Chris Rock.
The Woman in the Window
The psychological thriller 'The Woman in the Window' was also supposed to open in cinemas on May 15, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie's release has been postponed. No new release date has been set yet.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
The movie is a sequel to the 2017 film The Hitman's Bodyguard. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Frank Grillo, Richard E. Grant, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman. It was expected to open in theaters on August 28, 2020, but it has now been moved to an August 20, 2021 release date.
