In the aftermath of the recently concluded SAG-AFTRA strike, the Walt Disney Company has announced a delay in the release of Marvel’s Deadpool 3, Captain America: Brave New World and The Thunderbolts. move that has been the subject of much speculation during the work stoppage.
Originally slated for a May 3, 2024 release, the highly anticipated comic book threequel, reuniting Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, will now hit theaters on July 26, 2024.
This decision is part of a broader reshuffling of Disney’s theatrical release schedule, impacting several major film projects. Deadpool 3 has now secured the July 26 slot, displacing Captain America: Brave New World, which, in turn, has been pushed to February 14, 2025. Marvel’s Thunderbolts has shifted from December 20, 2024, to July 25, 2025, and the upcoming Blade reboot moved from February 15, 2025, to November 7, 2025.
Beyond the Marvel universe, Disney has also delayed the prequel to its 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King has moved from a July 5, 2024, release date to December 20, 2024. Additionally, Disney has vacated two unspecified dates, July 25, 2025, and November 7, 2025.
The SAG-AFTRA strike, which began in July, forced a production suspension for Deadpool 3. Now, after nearly four months of uncertainty, Marvel Studios is gearing up to resume filming before the Thanksgiving break. However, discussions of a potential delay had circulated for weeks as the strike extended into the fall.
Notably, Deadpool 3 is now the only Marvel Studios film scheduled to hit theaters in 2024, a significant deviation from the usual release pattern of three or four Marvel features a year.
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Captain America: Brave New World, featuring Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson taking on the Marvel mantle, had already completed principal photography prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Despite this, the film now faces a seven-month delay. Meanwhile, both Thunderbolts and the Blade reboot have yet to commence production.
The decision to shift Deadpool 3 from its original May release date leaves a noticeable void in the summer blockbuster lineup for 2024. The first weekend of May traditionally serves as a prime slot for studios, often marking the kickoff of the summer season. Marvel has frequently dominated this timeframe with releases like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Interestingly, Disney still has another major film, 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, slated for May 24, 2024. This sets up a clash with Warner Bros.’ Mad Max spin-off, Furiosa. However, with Kingdom maintaining its original date and not moving up three weeks alongside Deadpool 3, there’s speculation that another studio might seize the opportunity to claim the first days of May, provided productions can resume swiftly post-strike. The industry awaits further developments as the cinematic landscape continues to adjust to the post-strike era.
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