Which Movies Are Affected By The Coronavirus (So Far)??

The coronavirus has turned 2020 upside down, and one of the most unexpected victims is the film industry.

With public gatherings becoming increasingly dangerous during the pandemic, movie theaters in highly affected areas like China and Italy are shuttered. France has created a limited seating ban, allowing people only to sit in every other row. In the US, movie theaters are still open — though that could easily change. Early predictions already have the global box office taking a hit north of $5 billion this year due to precautions around COVID-19.

Related: Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson Test Positive For Coronavirus

It’s not surprising many studios have decided to wait it out, holding back their big properties until this is all over. So, which movies have been delayed? Which blockbusters are still on their way to cinemas near you soon??

Follow our guide for all the latest!

Hypnotic

Status: Uncertain

New Release Date (US): Uncertain

Hypnotic hasn’t even started filming yet — the Ben Affleck flick was supposed to begin shooting at the end of next month — but the coronavirus outbreak has already delayed production and pushed that shoot date back to an undetermined time.

According to TMZ, filmmaker and director Robert Rodriguez had wanted to start filming around Los Angeles at the end of April, but worries about big crowds and social distancing in regards to COVID-19 have pushed things back for an indeterminate amount of time.

A rep for the movie production told the outlet:

“We will be taking a temporary hiatus to take necessary precautions to ensure the health of our cast and crew.”

Well then!

A ‘temporary hiatus’ doesn’t sound so bad in the grand scheme of things, so hopefully filming can ramp up soon enough once safety is better ensured across the industry and the world, and we can all go from there.

No Time To Die

Status: Delayed 7 Months

New Release Date (US): November 20, 2020

No Time To Die, AKA the 25th James Bond film (and Daniel Craig‘s final outing in the role), was intended to premiere March 31 and hit North America shortly after on April 10. However, Bond’s worldwide appeal is a big part of its success, and the film would also have been accompanied by an international press tour — something highly inadvisable under current circumstances. So the film was moved to November.

In a statement, the team behind Bond said:

“MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced today that after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace, the release of No Time to Die will be postponed until November 2020.”

It was the first but far from the last.

UPDATE: Moved up 5 days to November 20 in the US — and November 12 in the UK.

Trolls World Tour

Status: Moved Up One Week

New Release Date (US): April 10, 2020

This one is actually coming sooner. Rather than delay the animated sequel, Universal actually moved it up into the date made empty by the delayed Bond movie.

Peter Rabbit 2

Status: Delayed TWICE

New Release Date: January 15, 2021

Did y’all know there was a Peter Rabbit sequel coming? And that it was subtitled The Runaway??

If the family film was on your radar — and especially if your kids were looking forward to it — we have some bad news. The film was meant to debut domestically on April 3, but Sony decided to play it safe and hop over to August.

Then as things started to look worse, the studio decided to give up on 2020 altogether, shifting this one all the way to 2021, along with all of its previously scheduled fare (way down below).

A Quiet Place Part II

Status: Delayed 6 Months

New Release Date: September 4, 2020

The sequel to the 2018 horror hit was supposed to come out on March 20, but just over a week out, Paramount decided to pull the film. In a statement, the studio said:

“After much consideration, and in light of the ongoing and developing situation concerning coronavirus and restrictions on global travel and public gatherings, Paramount Pictures will be moving the worldwide release of A Quiet Place Part II. We believe in and support the theatrical experience, and we look forward to bringing this film to audiences this year once we have a better understanding of the impact of this pandemic on the global theatrical marketplace.”

Director John Krasinski, whose wife Emily Blunt is headlining the followup, wrote a more personal message to fans on Instagram, saying:

“To all our A Quiet Place fans, one of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together. Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that. As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie… I’m gonna wait to release the film til we CAN all see it together! So here’s to our group movie date! See you soon! #AQuietPlacePart2… Take2.”

Mulan

Status: Delayed 4 Months

New Release Date: July 24, 2020

With its obvious international appeal, this was a no-brainer decision from Disney.

Mulan, with its cast of Chinese and Chinese-descended actors, including stars Donnie Yen and Liu Yifei, could easily become one of the highest grossing Hollywood movies in Chinese history — but only once the nation’s movie theaters are open again.

The film already had its premiere, and early critical reactions on social media have been overwhelmingly positive, so we’re sure Disney want to get this one out as soon as possible — but as of now have no new release date picked out to replace the rapidly approaching March 27 one.

UPDATE: Disney have now moved Mulan to the date previously held by Jungle Cruise, still firmly in Summer 2020. Seems optimistic to us…

The Lovebirds

Status: Delayed

New Release Date: TBA

This smaller studio comedy might not have been on your radar either, but The Lovebirds was also meant to bow this Spring, on April 3. However, at the same time they moved A Quiet Place, Paramount also pushed back the Kumail Nanjiani/Issa Rae vehicle. We still don’t know how long the delay will last.

The New Mutants

Status: Delayed (again)

Release Date: August 28, 2020

This X-Men spinoff was never the safest bet to keep its date. The movie was already pushed back from its original April 2018 release date by 20th Century Fox, who said it needed reshoots to meet studio notes — reshoots which never happened amid the big merger with Disney. Now the Mouse House has, per the director, decided the film is just fine the way it always was, even if it doesn’t fit in with the rest of their Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, the cursed film — which was finally going to see the light of day on April 3 — has now been delayed for the fifth time due to the coronavirus.

The new date for the film is August 28… for now.

F9: The Fast Saga

Status: Delayed 11 Months

New Release Date: April 2, 2021

The ninth Fast & Furious film is coming to you the slowest. The blockbuster was meant to blast the box office in on Memorial Day, but Universal decided to delay the next installment of its biggest moneymaker franchise almost a FULL YEAR!

In a statement all about family, producers wrote on Facebook:

“To our family of Fast fans everywhere, We feel all the love and the anticipation you have for the next chapter in our saga. That’s why it’s especially tough to let you know that we have to move the release date of the film. It’s become clear that it won’t be possible for all of our fans around the world to see the film this May. We are moving the global release date to April 2021, with North America opening on April 2. While we know there is disappointment in having to wait a little while longer, this move is made with the safety of everyone as our foremost consideration. Moving will allow our global family to experience our new chapter together. We’ll see you next spring. Much love, Your Fast Family.”

Antlers

Status: Delayed

New Release Date: TBA

The Guillermo Del Toro-produced horror film was scheduled for April 17 but has also been pushed back indefinitely.

Black Widow

Status: Delayed 6 Months

New Release Date: November 6, 2020

Sure to be one of the biggest films of the year, Marvel‘s highly anticipated Black Widow solo movie was one of the last holdouts which seemed to be keeping its release date of May 1. However, that appears to have been wishful thinking on Disney’s part. Even if the pandemic is miraculously over by then — which is looking less and less likely — the huge international press rollout would have taken place starting in mid-April. That’s obviously not going to happen.

So yes, Disney eventually announced on March 17 that the superhero spy thriller would have to wait for a date to be announced later. It’s possible at this point the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe schedule could be shifting back by one release date. Given the movies so often rely on information (and post-credits scene teasers) in the previous film, they likely can’t just leap-frog this one past The Eternals. So we wouldn’t be surprised if Black Widow takes that window in November, with that film moving to February in the date of Shang-Chi, and so on.

UPDATE: Black Widow has indeed shifted back in to the Eternals date in November, with each subsequent Marvel movie being moved back, including every single one which had been scheduled for 2021. Here are all those new dates:

• Black Widow – November 6, 2020
• Eternals – February 12, 2021
• Shang-Chi – May 7, 2021
• Doctor Strange: In The Multiverse of Madness – November 5, 2021
• Thor: Love And Thunder – February 18, 2022

Artemis Fowl

Status: Moved To Streaming On Disney+

New Release Date: TBA

This adaptation of the hit YA book has had a long history of being delayed and was finally scheduled for May 29. However due to the pandemic it won’t ever see theaters at all. Disney has made the hard choice to premiere the big budget film on its Disney+ streaming service, though the date for that premiere has not been announced as of this writing, but the announcement did mention it joining the service’s “summer lineup.”

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Status: Delayed

Release Date: TBA

Dev Patel‘s starring role in the re-imagining of the Charles Dickens classic will have to wait. Its May 8 date from Searchlight Pictures just won’t work anymore. Nothing personal.

The Woman In The Window

Status: Delayed

Release Date: TBA

This thriller from 20th Century Studios (now owned by Disney) was initially intended to drop on May 15. Maybe they can wait until the end of the year and push for Amy Adams in the Oscar conversation? She’s always SO GOOD!

Scoob

Status: Delayed

Release Date: TBD

The Scooby Doo prequel was set for May 15, but fans will have to wait to see the early adventures as the animated film has been delayed indefinitely. May we suggest checking out episodes of the terrific ’90s series A Pup Named Scooby Doo while you wait?

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run

Status: Delayed 2 Months

Release Date: July 31, 2020

Appropriately, this animated feature as the littlest shift in schedule, just 2 months from its original May 22 release date to July 31. Of course, that could prove to be too ambitious if the quarantine lasts longer — if so, it could be delayed again, so check back!

Wonder Woman 1984

Status: Delayed TWICE

Release Date: October 2

The much anticipated sequel to everyone’s favorite DC movie is going to have to stay anticipated for a little longer. Even though Wonder Woman 1984 wasn’t set to come out until June 5, Warner Bros isn’t taking any chances. They’ve pushed back the surefire hit to August 14 in hopes they can still have a Summer blockbuster after all this is over. Many fans were beginning to wonder if the studio might experiment by releasing the film straight to streaming, but this is a $200 million investment we’re talking about! Warner Bros Group chair Toby Emmerich said:

“When we greenlit Wonder Woman 1984, it was with every intention to be viewed on the big screen and are excited to announce that Warner Bros. Pictures will be bringing the film to theatres on Aug. 14. We hope the world will be in a safer and healthier place by then.

The blockbuster has also pushed the James Wan horror film Malignant out of the way; that movie does not yet have a new release date.

UPDATE: Even August was too soon. The sequel has now been moved another two months, to October 2.

Antebellum

Status: Delayed 4 Months

New Release Date: August 20

This Janelle Monae horror tale got pushed back to August — and considering the subject matter may have gotten more timely…

Candyman

Status: Delayed 3 Months

New Release Date: September 25

This Jordan Peele-produced reimagining of the horror classic was set to come out in June, but Universal have officially delayed it until September — why they didn’t go a few more weeks and have it as their big Halloween release we have no idea.

Tenet

Status: Delayed 2 Weeks

New Release Date: July 31

Even as many people begin to believe the coronavirus is over, July still feels like pushing it on theater openings. So Christopher Nolan‘s mindbending action yarn time travelled to two weeks later… for now.

In The Heights

Status: Delayed

Release Date: TBD

The adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s first Broadway hit was meant to be the perfect Summer programming on June 26 — now the beat will have to wait as the film has been delayed with no new release date.

Greyhound

Status: Delayed

Release Date: TBD

Tom Hanks was set to return to WWII on June 12, but just like its star the film got its life interrupted by the coronavirus. Greyhound, the story of a ship captain taking on Nazi u-boats, sounds like it would have been the perfect Father’s Day movie — but now dads across the country will have to wait, probably until next year considering Sony‘s other moves…

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Status: Delayed 8 Months

Release Date: March 5, 2021

Sony’s second shot at a reboot of the Ghostbusters IP is a 30-years-later sequel in the same vein of Jurassic World and Blade Runner: 2049. It’s even made by Jason Reitman, son of the original film’s director, Ivan Reitman, for an extra nostalgic boost. But the studio will have to wait another year to see if fans have a different reaction to this one; it has been pushed back to March 5, 2021, taking the spot previously held by the Uncharted movie. That video game adaptation — if it ever really gets made — won’t be out until October 8, 2021 now.

Morbius

Status: Delayed 8 Months

Release Date: March 19, 2021

After the success of Venom, the surprise box office hit that almost caused the divorce of Sony and Marvel, they decided to hit the ground running with more of their Spider-Man villain movies. But while Jared Leto is able to ignore a pandemic, his vampire-science-man movie Morbius can’t; it has now officially been delayed. But fans apparently won’t have to wait until Spring of 2021 before their next Sinister Six fix. Oddly, the studio has not yet delayed Venom 2, which is still on the schedule for October. Of course, the REAL scares will come if this isn’t all over by Halloween season…

Top Gun: Maverick

Status: Delayed 6 Months

Release Date: December 23, 2020

Speaking of dad movies and decades-later sequels, this Tom Cruise vehicle is pulling back on the throttle and… OK, we don’t know jet terms, we mean it’s coming at you less quickly than it was. Paramount unsurprisingly announced the June 24 date was a little too soon and have delayed Top Gun: Maverick to Christmas.

The French Dispatch

Status: Delayed 3 Months

Release Date: October 16, 2020

The most Wes Anderson looking Wes Anderson film ever, starring an A-list cast including Timothée Chalamet and Bill Murray, has been dispatched from its festive July 14 date (Bastille Day in France) to October.

Free Guy

Status: Delayed 5 Months

New Release Date: December 11, 2020

The Ryan Reynolds meta video game action comedy from 20th Century (formerly Fox) was planned smack dab in the middle of the blockbuster summer, but instead it will serve as some ultra-violent Christmastime counter-programming; it’s been moved to December 11.

Spiral

Status: Delayed A YEAR

New Release Date: May 20, 2021

Looks like we’ll have to wait even longer to see the secrets behind Chris Rock‘s Saw series reboot. (Also, why didn’t they move it to October while they were at it?? Saw used to OWN Halloween!)

Jungle Cruise

Status: Delayed A YEAR

New Release Date: July 30, 2021

Disney’s next park ride-based adventure film, starring The Rock and Emily Blunt, will be cruising all the way to 2021 — it’s been moved an entire YEAR to be a blockbuster next Summer instead.

[Image via Universal Pictures/Paramount Pictures/MGM/Marvel Studios/YouTube.]