Few industries were more profoundly disrupted by the Covid-19 outbreak than the motion-picture business. Theaters closed, workers were idled, some stars passed away, and projects were delayed or scrapped altogether.
After more than two-and-a-half years of living with the pandemic, society has returned to normal, more or less. But the echoes of the outbreak still reverberate through the movie industry, as some of the projects paused several years ago remain in development. Other motion pictures have been held up for production reasons not directly related to the pandemic.
To find the highly anticipated movies whose release has been delayed, 24/7 Tempo consulted the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Bloomberg News, as well as various wire services and studio websites. Information regarding new release dates was accurate as of the end of October.
That month, Disney announced a rescheduling of films such as “Fantastic Four,” “Deadpool 3,” and “Blade,” among other Marvel movies, citing delays ranging from a few months to almost a year. (See when every upcoming superhero movie will hit theaters.)
Click here to see the new release dates for 19 highly anticipated movies
In the case of two Marvel titles, “Blade” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3,” the release schedule was upset by issues with directors – in the former case because the original director bowed out and in the latter because the director was fired and then rehired. In the case of still another Marvel title, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” a director has not yet been signed.
There are two Mission: Impossible films on the list of delayed movies, and both have been paused because of the pandemic, as announced in January by the studios releasing the films. In the case of “Mission: Impossible 7,” that motion picture was originally scheduled for release on Nov. 19, 2021, and was pushed back almost two years to July 14, 2023. (Entries in the franchise count among Tom Cruise’s biggest and best movies.)
The Marvels
> Scheduled release date: 2/17/2023
> Original release date: 11/11/2022
> Studio: Disney
The domino effect of delaying releases impacted “The Marvels,” featuring Marvel superheroines Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Ms Marvel. The film was scheduled to be released on Nov. 11, 2022. However, the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” had been delayed and the Black Panther sequel took the Nov. 11 date that had been held by the Captain Marvel sequel.
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John Wick: Chapter 4
> Scheduled release date: 3/23/2023
> Original release date: 5/27/2022
> Studio: Lionsgate
The crime-thriller franchise that stars Keanu Reeves in the title role was previously pushed back to a May 21, 2021, release, and then was pushed back again on Dec. 22, 2021, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. No reason is known for the latest delay. The most recent John Wick film, “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, was released on May 19, 2019.
65
> Scheduled release date: 4/28/2023
> Original release date: 4/14/2023
> Studio: Lionsgate
“65” is about an astronaut who crashes on a planet and discovers that he’s not alone. The film stars Adam Driver and is set to open in theaters on April 28, 2023, two weeks after its original release date of April 14, 2023.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
> Scheduled release date: 5/5/2023
> Original release date: 5/1/2020
> Studio: Disney
The Marvel franchise “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” had been delayed over the sacking of director James Gunn. He was fired after tasteless jokes he shared on social media that predated his work with Disney and Marvel were revealed by a conservative website. Gunn apologized and was rehired. The plan had been for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to serve as the springboard for a slew of new cosmic franchises.
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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
> Scheduled release date: 6/9/2023
> Original release date: 6/24/2022
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” was pushed back by a year. The decision was made after new CEO Brian Robbins took the reins of Paramount Pictures in September 2021. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” will be the first movie in the series since “Bumblebee,” based on the Transformer character of that name, in 2018.
Untitled Indiana Jones movie
> Scheduled release date: 6/30/2023
> Original release date: 7/29/2022
> Studio: Disney
While Disney has had to scramble to rearrange the dates of its Marvel franchise lineup, causing a domino-effect in terms of release dates in the process, it is unclear why the studio has paused the latest entry in the Indiana Jones series, one of the strongest franchises in movie history.
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Mission: Impossible 7
> Scheduled release date: 7/14/2023
> Original release date: 11/19/2021
> Studio: Paramount Pictures/Skydance
The pandemic is to blame for the delay in “Mission: Impossible 7,” as well as its follow-up, “Mission: Impossible 8.” In a joint statement from Paramount Pictures and Skydance, the studios said “After thoughtful consideration, Paramount Pictures and Skydance have decided to postpone the release dates for Mission: Impossible 7 & 8 in response to delays due to the ongoing pandemic.” Shooting on “Mission: Impossible 7” was paused in early 2020 because of Covid-19.
Ant-Man And the Wasp: Quantumania
> Scheduled release date: 7/28/2023
> Original release date: 2/17/2023
> Studio: Disney
“Ant-Man And the Wasp: Quantumania” opens the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Superheroes Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. The film’s release was moved to July 28, 2023, to accommodate the release of “The Marvels,” which itself had been moved from its Nov. 11, 2022, release date because “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was opening that day.
Madame Web
> Scheduled release date: 2/16/2024
> Original release date: 10/6/2023
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
Release of “Madame Web,” a Columbia/Marvel title and Spider-Man spinoff, was moved four months into the future to make room for another Spider-Man spinoff, “Kraven the Hunter.” Dakota Johnson stars as Madame Web, a clairvoyant who helps the web-spinning, crime-fighting superhero.
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Kraven the Hunter
> Scheduled release date: 10/6/2023
> Original release date: 1/13/2023
> Studio: Columbia Pictures
“Kraven the Hunter,” the name of an antagonist of Spider-Man, stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the title character. The film was moved back nearly nine months to Oct. 6, 2023, the original release date of another Spider-Man spinoff, “Madame Web.”
Untitled Star Trek movie
> Scheduled release date: 12/22/2023
> Original release date: 6/9/2023
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
An untitled Star Trek film is being helmed by “WandaVision” director Matt Shakman. A Star Trek film has not appeared in theaters since “Star Trek Beyond” in 2016.
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Garfield
> Scheduled release date: 5/24/2024
> Original release date: 2/16/2024
> Studio: Sony Pictures
The animated film “Garfield,” about a slovenly lasagna-loving comic-strip cat, will feature Chris Pratt voicing the title role. The movie was shifted back to a Memorial Day weekend opening from its original February release date.
Mission: Impossible 8
> Scheduled release date: 6/28/2024
> Original release date: 7/7/2023
> Studio: Paramount Pictures/Skydance
As with its predecessor, “Mission: Impossible 7,” this continuation of the popular Tom Cruise-starring adventure series will be released later than originally planned due to delays caused by the pandemic.
Transformers: A New Generation
> Scheduled release date: 7/19/2024
> Original release date: 2023
> Studio: Paramount Pictures
This animated prequel to the Transformers franchise – one of Paramount’s most successful series – is being directed by Josh Cooley (“Toy Story 4”). Its delay in release is related to Paramount’s postponement of “Mission: Impossible 7” from 2022 to 2023, which caused a cascading effect on some Paramount titles.
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Blade
> Scheduled release date: 9/6/2024
> Original release date: 11/3/2023
> Studio: Disney
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney delayed development of “Blade” – a new film based on the Marvel vampire hunter of the same name, starring Mahershala Ali – after director Bassim Tariq bowed out due to a scheduling conflict. The decision has had a domino impact on the release of other Disney films, with “Blade” now scheduled to take the slot originally given to “Deadpool 3” on the calendar.
Deadpool 3
> Scheduled release date: 11/8/2024
> Original release date: 9/6/24
> Studio: Disney
“Deadpool 3” was originally scheduled for release for Nov. 3, 2023, but was moved back, with “Blade” slotted into its place. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, and Disney has persuaded Hugh Jackman to reprise the role of Wolverine.
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Fantastic Four
> Scheduled release date: 2/14/2025
> Original release date: 11/8/2024
> Studio: Disney
According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Fantastic Four” was pushed out of its original release date by the need to reschedule the debut of “Deadpool 3,” and because its four leads have not yet been cast. “WandaVision” helmsman Matt Shakman is scheduled to direct the movie.
Untitled Marvel film
> Scheduled release date: 11/7/2025
> Original release date: 2/14/2025
> Studio: Disney
The rescheduling of a slew of Marvel films also affected an untitled Marvel movie that was originally due for release on Feb. 14, 2025.
Avengers: Secret Wars
> Scheduled release date: 5/1/2026
> Original release date: 11/7/2025
> Studio: Disney
“Avengers: Secret Wars,” which will conclude Marvel’s Multiverse Saga, has been pushed back six months. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film is still seeking a director.
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