Disney has rearranged its movie release schedule, with several Marvel Cinematic Universe films being postponed. Variety reports that the revamped schedule is due to a production-related snowball impact and will affect the slate through 2022. It will also have an effect on Disney+.
All MCU films Disney had in the pipeline for 2022 were moved to a later slot. Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness was originally scheduled for March 25, but it has been moved to Thor: Love and Thunder, which is the old date of May 6. The next Thor movie, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, will be released on July 8.
The schedule changes mean that there will be only three Marvel movies next years instead of the four planned. The release date for Captain Marvel 2: The Marvels is now February 17th 2023. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was moved from July 10th to July 28th 2023. Disney moved one Marvel mystery movie by one week, starting November 10th 2023.
The next Indiana Jones movie has been delayed 11 months. For Harrison Ford's fifth stint in the role of the famous archeologist, you'll have to wait until June 30, 2023. Ford suffered an injury during filming this summer but is now fully recovered. The 2023 schedule has been canceled for a live-action Disney film, a 20th Century movie and two Marvel films (all untitled).
Amazingly, despite the many delays over the years, Disney has not moved Avatar 2’s release date. It is still scheduled for December 16, 2022.
These changes are yet to have an impact on Disney+. Disney has set aside a theatrical window to screen its films for the remainder of 2021. However, it has not yet revealed how things will play in 2022 or beyond.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Mulan, Raya, the Last Dragon, Cruella, and Black Widow required a $30 Premier Access pass in order to get early access on Disney+. Star Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney for allowing viewers to stream Black Widow from their homes on the same day as it was released in theaters. Pixar's movies Soul and Luca were immediately available for streaming in certain countries as part of their Disney+ subscriptions.
Some MCU shows on Disney+ such as Loki or Hawkeye tie in with the theatrical movies. The overhauled theatrical schedule could have an impact on the scheduling of future series.
