It was only a matter of time until the ongoing worldwide pandemic would change the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the upcoming Marvel film Black Widow was postponed indefinitely (initial release date May 1, 2020), Disney announced today that the entirety of the Phase Four movies will be pushed back due to the delay of Black Widow. Disney issued the new release dates in a press release today. The Marvel movies affected by the delay are listed below and the release schedule will be as follows:
Black Widow: November 6, 2020
The 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
Disney has also announced the sequels to Black Panther and Captain Marvel, with both scheduled for a 2022 release date.
While some fans were debating an on-demand release for Black Widow, it seems like the smartest choice to delay the cinematic release overall until a time where we can all (hopefully) enjoy the film on a big screen. Disney did not comment on when shooting for The Eternals or Shang-Chi will resume, as both are currently on hold.