Warner Bros. has finally made some big decisions about its biggest summer releases as coronavirus concerns continue to affect all corners of the entertainment industry. First up, the studio has pushedWonder Woman 1984’s release date, moving thePatty Jenkins-directed,Gal Gadot-starring sequel from its original June 5 date to August 14.
The two-month push from Warner Bros. (as reported byVariety) aligns with previous reporting that the studio has zero intention of moving one of their biggest tentpoles of the yearfrom theatrical release to streamingor VOD. Instead, this conservative push — but still a push, nonetheless — hints at Warner Bros.' hopes coronavirus pandemic concerns will recede to the point it is finally safe to encourage folks to see the moviein theaters this summer. Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairmanToby Emmerichreleased a statement onWonder Woman 1984’s push, commenting,
“When we greenlitWonder 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 theaters on August 14. We hope the world will be in a safer and healthier place by then.”
Warner Bros. has also removedIn the Heightsfrom the release calendar.In the Heights, a movie adaptation of theLin-Manuel Miranda-created musical directed byJohn M. Chu, was originally set to be released on June 26. Earlier in the week, Miranda gave an update on whereIn the Heightswas at in the post-production process, with hiscomments hinting at a possible delaybut no big indications otherwise a delay would happen.
In addition toIn the Heights, Warner Bros. removedScoob!, the animatedScooby-Doomovie starringWill Forte,Zac Efron,Amanda Seyfried, andGina Rodriguez, from the release calendar as well asJames Wan’s upcoming horror picMalignantstarringAnnabelle Wallis.Scoob!was originally planned to hit theaters on May 15 andMalignantwas dated for August 14, the slotWonder Woman 1984now occupies.
The release calendar for all 2020 movies has been in flux for weeks now, with studios eitherpushing their big tentpolessignificantly further down the calendar orpostponing their release dates indefinitely. Combined withmass theater shutdownsacross the U.S., beginning in New York City and Los Angeles,convention delays, and numerous movie and TV shoots likeThe Batman’s in the UKdelayed across the world, the industry is in uncharted territory right now as coronavirus prevention remains the primary goal of all involved.
