RUMOR: Will Disney Delay Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?

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The arrival of a new strain of coronavirus in the United States and the subsequent increase in COVID-19 cases across the country is once again worrying Hollywood executives. Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently still slated for a September 3rd, 2021, release date, the upsurge in COVID-19 cases could bring on changes in the release schedule.

Major Movie Cancels Premiere

Late Friday night, on July 30th, 2021, Paramount Pictures pulled Clifford The Big Red Dog from its release schedule, expressing concern about the reluctance of movie-goers to go to the theater and the rising number of cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The movie was previously set to hit theaters on September 17th, 2021, but now Paramount is rushing to find a new release date that will feel safer to people planning to see the movie in theaters.

Clifford is the first major motion picture to be delayed because of concerns related to the rising number of delta variant cases. According to Comicbook.com, there is a concern among Hollywood executives that this will lead to a domino effect that will impact Disney’s decision to release Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on September 3rd, which is two weeks before the date that Clifford was scheduled to premiere.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Currently, Marvel is still touting an exclusive theatrical release for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on September 3rd. Although there is no indication that Disney will delay the film’s release, some experts think this is subject to change.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Photo: Marvel

Disney recently decided to pull all of its talent from appearing in-person at the National Association of Theater Owner’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada, citing concerns related to the rapidly spreading delta variant, which could indicate the studio is planning to do something.

However, given the recent lawsuit brought by Scarlett Johansson over the simultaneous release of Black Widow, some industry experts are saying that it’s unlikely that the Disney and Marvel teams will go the same route with the latest MCU film, especially considering the importance of Marvel’s first Asian-helmed superhero movie.

Waiting for the Shang-Chi premiere like woah… Photo: Marvel Studios