Marvel may delayEternalsif upcoming martial arts epicShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsdoes not bring in the big bucks at the box office, claims a new report. Marvel and Disney took the somewhat surprising decision not to releaseShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsto Disney+ in a simultaneous streaming release seen withBlack Widow, with the studios reportedly basing the release ofEternalson how well Shang-Chi does amid the ongoing circumstances.
While the report, which comes courtesy of Vulture, does assert that several upcoming tentpole release will keep their planned release dates, citing the likes ofDuneand Paramount’sTop Gun: Maverickas blockbusters expected to stay where they are, they allege that other major releases, such asEternals, are still very much up in the air.
The report makes specific mention ofEternals, stating that, shouldShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsyield disappointing results at thebox officewhen it hits theaters next month, that Disney could pullEternalsfrom the schedule and wait for consumer confidence to reach a higher level than it is currently. As well have seen over the past year or so, moving one Marvel movie can have a huge effect on the release schedule, and therefore could cause repercussions throughout the rest of the MCU franchise and the studio’s planned release dates.
“As Disney’s firsttheatrically exclusive releaseof a tentpole film during the late pandemic and mid-vaccine era, this will be a true stress test of where moviegoing sentiment and comfort levels are at heading into the fall season,” BoxOffice Pro’s Shawn Robbins wrote in his analysis. “Recent moves to mandate vaccination passes in theaters across markets like New York City and Los Angeles could play an integral role in trends throughout the weeks ahead, potentially helping vaccinated moviegoers feel more safe to return.”
Current box office tracking forShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsmakes for some worrisome reading, with predictions putting the movie at around a $55 million opening, around $25 million shy of whatBlack Widowmade in the same time-period. So, maybe use a pencil when marking your “Marvel Release Day” calendar.
One such comic book movie that may face another delay is Sony’sVenom: Let There Be Carnage, which is now being rumored to be pushed back to January 2022 from its current release date of July 14, 2025. Much like the rest of the blockbuster releases,Venom: Let There Be Carnagehas faced several delays amid the current situation, and could be the first of many to continue the trend.
While we wait and see whether audiences brave the outside world and packed theaters to seeShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings|on the big screen, the movie hasreceived much praise from criticsfor both its martial arts action and Simu Liu’s lead performance. Following the events ofAvengers: Endgame, the movie will introduce newest Marvel hero Shang-Chi, who is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organization, and is forced to confront the past he thought he left behind.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis scheduled to be released in the United States on September 3, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.
As forEternals, the movie follows the titular immortal alien race, who emerge from hiding after thousands of years to protect Earth from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.Eternalsis currently scheduled to be released in the United States on August 07, 2025. This comes to us fromVulture.
https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/eternals-delay-could-happen-shang-chi-box-office/
