The world’s dominant entertainment company confirmed on March 24 its summer film release schedule, committing to a “flexible distribution strategy” similar to what Warner Bros did earlier this year with HBO Max.
Disney says it will use both theaters and its Disney+ streaming service to release its major films this year, in a strategy calculated to maximize returns and viewership as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact box office revenues. The Disney release schedule is also critical for the company’s various licensing partners, as those releases are the primary driver of sales for new Disney-related products.
The studio says it considers the combined streaming/theater release of Raya and the Last Dragon to be a success, and will follow the same model as it releases the live action version of Cruella and the long-delayed Marvel Studio’s Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh. Disney has now scheduled Cruella for recast on May 28, with Black Widow slotted for summer blockbuster territory on July 9.
Following a successful release for Raya and The Last Dragon, the highly anticipated live action film Cruella and Marvel Studios’ long-awaited Black Widow will launch simultaneously in cinemas and on Disney+ with Premier Access in most markets on May 28 and July 9 respectively.
Pixar’s next project, Luca, will follow a similar strategy that Disney used when releasing the Academy Award nominated film Soul, which was released on Disney+ over the Christmas holidays. The film Luca, a coming of age story in which the title character is also secretly a ‘sea monster’, will be released exclusively on the streaming service on June 18, but in markets where Disney+ is not available, the film will be released in cinemas.
Like Warner and other studios struggling with the impact of the pandemic, Disney says its ‘flexible’ strategy is the best option to deliver its films to the widest possible audience.
“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. “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.”
Disney also offered up some likely release dates for its 2022 film schedule, which is heavily dominated by Marvel superhero movies that have been delayed. These releases include: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on March 25, 2022; Thor: Love and Thunder on May 6; Black Panther 2 on July 8; Captain Marvel 2 on Nov. 11; Avatar 2 on Dec. 16; and a currently untitled Indiana Jones movie on July 29.
Disney also announced that, due to the pandemic, it has shifted release dates for several more films. The Ryan Reynolds sci fi comedy Free Guy will now be released on Aug. 13, which Reynolds also previewed in a spoof video on Instagram. The debut of new Marvel Studio’s property Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will come out on Sept. 3; The King’s Man will be released on Dec. 22; Deep Water will screen on Jan. 14 next year; and the long-delayed Death on the Nile will finally get some screen time on Feb. 11.