Coronavirus has changed a lot of things: school, work, relationships, and entertainment. In these unprecedented times, Hollywood films have had to push back their release dates due to closed theaters and social distancing guidelines or, in some cases, release films through streaming services like Disney+. As most states begin to ease back on social distancing guidelines and reopen places like movie theaters, we have to wonder what films to look forward to and what films we have missed during this pandemic. Here are some of the biggest films that have been pushed due to the virus:
Wonder Woman 1984, the next film in the Wonder Woman franchise, was set to hit theaters in June of this past summer, but the film has been pushed to a new date: October 2nd. While it’s the second film in what we can assume will be a series, producer Charles Roven has explained that it will have a lot of the same characters as the first film but will not serve as a sequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman. From the official trailer for the movie, it’s clear that fans can expect Gal Gadot to return to the role of Wonder Woman who, as both the title and trailer show, is still kicking ass all these years later. What’s most shocking about the trailer, though, is the fact that Steve (Chris Pine) seems to still be miraculously alive, despite having died in the first film. The trailer is promising, with stunning visual effects and new characters for fans to connect with. It’s safe to say that October 2nd can’t come soon enough.
A Quiet Place Part II, the sequel to the renowned 2018 horror film A Quiet Place, has also been pushed due to the pandemic. Originally set to premiere March 20th, 2020, the film is now set for release on April 23rd, 2021. The official trailer seems to promise some more backstory of the origin of the apocalypse, following Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and her children as they struggle to survive in this new world in the aftermath of her husband’s (John Krasinski) chilling death in the first film. For horror and suspense fans, we’re sure that this movie will be worth the wait.
Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda was set to premiere a movie-version of his 2005 musical, In the Heights. The film has a stellar cast and team: it’s written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), and it stars Hamilton’s Anthony Ramos. With a combination of beautiful visuals, stunning choreography, and fantastic singing, this Tony Award-winning musical is sure to please any musical-lover or Hamilton fan out there. Originally set to release in June of 2020, the film has been pushed back to June of 2021 due to the pandemic.
For Marvel fans, the pandemic has shifted a multitude of movies as the company struggles to keep up with its four-phase film and television plan. Fans have anxiously awaited the first female Avenger film for a while now, and unfortunately, they’ll have to wait two more months for the film. Black Widow was set to premiere on May 1st, 2020, but has been pushed back to November 6th. As the official trailer shows, the film will do a deep dive into the origin story of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), showcasing her young adulthood and family. In true Marvel fashion, fans should expect stellar graphics, moving storylines, and comedic moments.
Black Widow isn’t the only Marvel movie to have been pushed due to the pandemic, however. Shang-Ci and the Legend of the Ten Rings, originally set for release in February of next year, has been pushed back to March. There is no official trailer for the film, since its production has been postponed. The same is true for the second installment in the Doctor Strange franchise, which has been pushed from May of 2021 to March of 2022.
Another big film pushed due to the virus is Spiral. As part of the Saw franchise, the movie promises elements of chilling horror. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock who, from the official trailer, are part of law enforcement. This is interesting considering that the other films in the franchise focus more on those trapped by Jigsaw, featuring escape-room houses and puzzles. The trailer hints that, in this newest installment in the franchise, the serial killer shifts his focus to target police officers. The film, originally set to premiere in May of 2020, has been pushed to May of 2021.
There are, of course, many other films that have been pushed: Venom: Let There Be Carnage (From October 2020 to June 2021), Top Gun: Maverick (From June 2020 to July 2021), and countless others. We truly hope that the virus does not further impact these films and the hard work that has gone into making them.
Cover photo: Comic Book Resources
