Marvel Studios has announced significant changes to its upcoming film slate, with two major titles facing delays due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes. The highly anticipated 'Thunderbolts' and the reboot of 'Blade' have both been pushed back, while 'Deadpool 3' has secured a prime summer 2024 release date.
Strike Impact on Marvel's Schedule
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes have forced Marvel to reshuffle its release calendar. 'Thunderbolts', originally set for July 2024, will now debut on December 20, 2024. Meanwhile, 'Blade' has been delayed by nearly a year, moving from September 2024 to February 14, 2025.
Deadpool Moves Up
In a surprising twist, 'Deadpool 3' has actually moved forward in the schedule. The Ryan Reynolds-led sequel will now hit cinemas on May 3, 2024 - taking over what was previously 'Thunderbolts' summer slot. This marks the first time the foul-mouthed mercenary will appear in the official Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What This Means for Phase 5
These changes create significant gaps in Marvel's Phase 5 rollout:
- No Marvel films between November 2023 and May 2024
- Only two releases scheduled for 2024 ('Deadpool 3' and 'Captain America: Brave New World')
- 'Thunderbolts' now becomes a holiday season release
The delays are expected to cost Disney millions in marketing and merchandising tie-ins that were already in development for the original release dates.
Industry-Wide Disruptions
Marvel isn't alone in facing production headaches. Across Hollywood, studios are scrambling to adjust schedules as the strikes show no signs of resolution. Paramount has also delayed several major releases including the next 'Mission: Impossible' installment and a new 'Star Trek' film.
With no end in sight to the labour disputes, further disruptions to the 2024-2025 film calendar seem inevitable. For Marvel fans, the wait for some of these Phase 5 and 6 projects just got a little longer.
