By Leo Mercier-Ross
Marvel Studios, via a Disney press release, just changed almost all of their theatrical release slate for 2022 and 2023. This includes the likes of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, among others.
The Sam Raimi directed Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which was originally planned to release on March 25th, 2022 will now reportedly release May 6th, 2022 which was the planned release date of Thor: Love and Thunder. The latter will now be released during summertime, on July 8th, 2022.
With its release date was taken by the Thor: Ragnarok sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will now be released on November 11th, 2022. Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, which was supposed to close off Marvel Studios theatrical calendar of 2022 will now open the 2023 theatrical calendar on February 17th, 2023. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania which was supposed to have the February 2023 release date will now open on July 28th, 2023.
(Black Panther Wakanda Forever will now be released November 11th)
Two untitled Marvel movies, which were supposed to release on July 28th, 2023, and October 6th, 2023 respectively are now removed from the schedule. It is unclear if those movies are outright canceled or if their release dates are simply up in the air.
However, it's not all bad news. Marvel Studios have also had an advance in a release. The untitled Marvel movie set to release on November 10th, 2023 will now release one week earlier on November 3rd, 2023.
Other Disney projects were also mentioned. Namely Indiana Jones 5 (untitled) which was delayed almost a year. Leaving its July 14th, 2022 release date for a June 30th, 2023 release. The untitled Disney live-action which was previously dated on July 14th, 2023 is removed from the schedule. The last change is the untitled 20th Century movie, originally slated for release on October 20th, 2023 which is now removed from the schedule.
The last time we saw that big of a changeup in the release was with the last delay of Black Widow which also pushed back Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ring but didn’t influence the rest of the schedule.
It is worth noting that no Disney+ shows nor 2021 movies were mentioned in the press release. Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home both seem to be safe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 was also mysteriously left out, keeping its May 5th, 2023 release date. There was no mention of 2024 movies so we can rightfully assume that their release dates are, for now, safe.
It is worth noting that no Disney+ shows nor 2021 movies were mentioned in the press release. Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home both seem to be safe. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 was also mysteriously left out, keeping its May 5th, 2023 release date. There was no mention of 2024 movies so we can rightfully assume that their release dates are, for now, safe.
The exact reasons for the delay are, as of right now, unknown as neither Disney nor Marvel Studios made a public statement on the subject. A theory, which was brought to our attention by MCU geek’s very own Rhys Dell, is that the delays may be caused by the ongoing studio staff strike in Hollywood which might just slow down the production of movies that are currently filming.
There might also be some VFX problems with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which might be enough to create the domino delay effect we are currently experiencing.
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