'Cruella' and 'Black Widow' Shift to Day and Date
Disney is bringing two huge summer releases into your home.
Even as the vaccine is rolled out across America and the world, Disney seems to be losing faith in the summer movie season. It announced today that it will open both Cruella and Marvel’s Black Widow simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access ($30 for subscribers) in most Disney+ markets on Friday, May 28, and Friday, July 9.
While the $30 is not set in stone, it's what Disney charged for both Mulan and Raya on their services.
This decision was not made lightly, but with U.S. theaters at capacity limits and most international theatrical markets outside of Asia closed down, they're looking to make money without shelving the projects again.
Those are big titles to move online, but with Raya struggling at the box office, pulling in only $23.4 million in the first three weekends, they have no choice. They want to grow Disney+, and consumers have been very eager to rent and watch releases at home.
Along with summer blockbusters, the Pixar movie Luca will stream exclusively in Disney+ homes worldwide on June 18, the same strategy they used for Pixar’s Soul on Christmas.
If your country does not have Disney+ yet, do not fear, the studio will also release Luca theatrically, with premiere dates to be announced in the near future.
“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences. By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver the Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, in a statement.
Check out the major Disney title changes below.
Major Disney Theatrical Changes:
- Black Widow on July 9, 2021 (from May 7, 2021)
- Free Guy on Aug. 13, 2021 (from May 21, 2021)
- Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Sept. 3, 2021 (from July 9, 2021)
- The King’s Man on Dec. 22, 2021 (from Aug. 20, 2021)
- Deep Water on Jan. 14, 2022 (from Aug. 13, 2021)
- Death on the Nile on Feb. 11, 2022 (from Sept. 17, 2021)
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