Question: Will Disney Delay Shang-Chi Premiere?
With COVID-19 cases rising, will Disney delay the premiere of its upcoming epic, Shang-Chi?
It has not been a great week for Marvel/Disney.
Not only did one of the biggest stars on the planet sue the company for breach of contract, but the tactics used by the man in the executive suite caused many to scratch their heads.
Then, there were rumors saying that other stars might follow suit.
Why?
Because Disney recently released several of their tentpole flicks on both Disney+ Premier Access and in theaters simultaneously.
Why is that important?
Well, presumably because Scarlett Johansson (and Emily Blunt, Emma Stone) earned compensation according to CINEMA gate receipts. Moreover, it seems apparent that the actor’s contracts garnered desired revisions.
Now, another issue looms as summer slips away: What exactly should The Mouse do with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?
What with its bow set for September 3 and COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly, fueled by what the Washington Post says is “the highly transmissible delta variant and the widespread resumption of normal activities.”
Disney already requires guests to wear masks inside its theme parks, and the media conglomerate ordered certain groups of workers to be vaccinated. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden told cameras tougher guidelines are coming “in all probability.”
What’s Next for the Movies?
On Friday, in an exclusive, Deadline posted that Paramount delayed its release of Clifford the Big Red Dog. Erik Pedersen and Anthony D’Alessandro posted, “Paramount believes it has a winner with Clifford, but only if kids can safely go to the multiplex.”
Moreover, MickeyBlog.com can report, first hand, that the number of people at a 6:00 PM showing of Disney’s Jungle Cruise at a popular multiplex outside Boston numbered five. FIVE.
This is in line with reports speaking to lower-than-expected box office receipts for the Dwayne Johnson and Blunt vehicle.
Telltale Signs?
As early as last Wednesday, Gizmodo’s James Whitbrook wrote, “there are currently no plans to release Shang-Chi day-and-date on streaming through Disney+’s Premiere Access program – although as CDC recommendations begin to encourage indoor mask-wearing across the U.S. due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, we’ll bring you any updates to Shang-Chi’s rollout as and when we learn them.”
ComicBook.com is following the story, as well. On Saturday, Adam Barnhardt reported, “Though there’s no indication Disney will delay Shang-Chi, it seems the most likely option should the studio opt to do anything. After Scarlett Johansson sued the Mouse for sending Black Widow to Disney+ the same time it hit theaters, it’s increasingly unlikely the Disney and Marvel teams would go that same route with Shang-Chi, the outfit’s first feature film to star a predominantly Asian cast.”
However, at the same time, CNN reported, “The newly resurgent coronavirus could spark 140,000 to 300,000 cases a day in the United States come August.”
What, if anything, will Disney do? We’ll let you know. Hopefully, the opening of a popcorn flick is the biggest concern we’ll have come September.
Feature Image: Marvel