The movie industry has seen significant changes this year due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. We keep on hearing news of high profile films
getting delayed time and time again for the safety of the people who
make them and the people who want to watch them. It has been
affecting brands big and small, to the point where it is no longer
surprising to hear about a film getting delayed.
As was to be
expected, circumstances pertaining to the pandemic have affected
Disney’s movie release schedule in major ways once again.
Previously, Avatar 2 and the
next Star Wars film
were set for releases in December of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The
plan was for releases from the two franchises to come out every other
year so that they could alternate with each other at least until
2027. Now, the releases have been pushed back a year, meaning that
Avatar 2 is slated for
December 2022, and the next Star Wars
film, whatever it may be, is slated for December 2023.
While
Avatar 2 has been
pushed back over the years due to all the work that went into it,
this is the only time that its delay has been the result of the
pandemic. While there are still fans of his 2009 film, a lot of hype
needs to be built up again to get people interested in the sequels,
and the delay certainly exacerbates things. James Cameron had the
following to say on the matter:
"Prior to the
COVID-19, everything was on track to bring you the first sequel in
December of 2021. Unfortunately, due to the impact that the pandemic
has had on our schedule it is no longer possible for us to make that
date. There is no one more disappointed about this delay than me."
Additionally,
Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan
has been pulled from their release calendar. Originally, it was
supposed to come out in March, but the pandemic caused it to be
delayed to July and then, more recently, August 21. Now, we are not
sure what new release date it may be given, as Disney has not yet
announced it. Unlike the Stone Dragon from the animated film, nothing
is set in stone. A Walt Disney spokesperson provided the following
statement:
"Over the last
few months, it's became clear that nothing can be set in stone when
it comes to how we release films during this global health crisis,
and today that means pausing our release plans for Mulan
as we assess how we can most effectively bring this film to
audiences around the world.”
AMC Theatres, the
world’s biggest movie theater chain, had previously post-poned the
reopening of their locations to mid-late August. They were depending
on the releases of Mulan and
the Christopher Nolan film Tenet
around that time. However, both have been postponed indefinitely,
which means that theaters may need to wait a bit longer to have a
blockbuster movie that may encourage viewers to attend screenings.
According to today’s virtual Comic-Con panel about The
New Mutants, a horror movie
based on characters from Marvel Comics, the repeatedly delayed film
is still on track for an August 28 release, though those behind the
production have their fingers crossed. Currently, A Quiet
Place Part II was slated for
September 4 but has now been pushed back to April 2021.
While
it is a certainty that frustration among movie buffs persists, we
must remember that the changes that are being made need to
accommodate the safety of the people. Movies are our form of
escapism. There are still some challenges to conquer, but it may at
least be reassuring to know that the films we await are still
intended for release.
Source: CNN
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