The Hollywood Reporter
Disney’s film empire has reimagined its theatrical release calendar in a major way.
The studio announced a slew of changes on Tuesday, led by the news that it is setting two Star Wars movies for 2026 and pushing back Avatar 3 by a year, from December 2024 to December 2025. Additionally, Avatar 4 will now hit theaters in December 2029, followed by Avatar 5 in December 2031 — meaning 4 and 5 will now open three years later than previously announced.
Other highlights: Ryan Reynolds fans will be happy to learn that his untitled Deadpool 3 will now open in theaters on May 3, 2024, instead of Nov. 8, 2024.
Also on the Marvel Studios front, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has been pushed a year to May 1, 2026. The feature has embattled Jonathan Majors attached in the lead role. The actor is facing assault charges in New York court. The follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, has also been pushed a year, to May 7, 2027.
Disney’s already announced live-action Moana has received a theatrical release date of June 27, 2025.
20th Century has added another installment in the Alien franchise, dated for Aug. 16, 2024. Filmmaker Fede Alvarez is behind the feature, which stars Cailee Spaeny. The studio has also added Rami Malek thriller The Amateur to Nov. 8, 2024.
Lucasfilm has not had a Star Wars feature in theaters since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. At April’s Star Wars Celebration, it teased its theatrical future, including a feature to star Daisy Ridley, another from The Mandalorian’s Dave Filoni and an epic from James Mangold. On Tuesday, Lucasfilm moved a previously dated Star Wars movie from December 2025 to May 22, 2026. The Ridley feature is furthest along in development and is likely to open on that date. And curiously, Lucasfilm revealed in Tuesday’s announcement that it has added a new Star Wars feature for just five months later: Dec. 18, 2026. (Another Star Wars movie is staying on its current date of Dec. 17, 2027, thus wasn’t mentioned in the announcement).
Marvel Studios made a few other small tweaks to its schedule. Captain America: Brave New World has moved back around three months to July 26, 2024. Thunderbolts has pushed five months to Dec. 20, 2024. Blade likewise moved five months to Feb. 14, 2025, while Fantastic Four moved back three months to May 2, 2025. Multiple Marvel movies, including Blade and Thunderbolts, opted to delay going into production amid the writers strike.
Below are the changes in full:
Captain America: Brave New World previously dated on 5/3/24 moves to 7/26/24
Thunderbolts previously dated on 7/26/24 moves to 12/20/24
Untitled Alien Event Movie dated on 8/16/24
Blade previously dated on 9/6/24 moves to 2/14/25
Untitled Deadpool Movie previously dated on 11/8/24 moves to 5/3/24
The Amateur (20th) is now dated on 11/8/24
Avatar 3 (20th) previously dated on 12/20/24 moves to 12/19/25
Fantastic Four previously dated on 2/14/25 moves to 5/2/25
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty previously dated on 5/2/25 moves to 5/1/26
Moana is dated for 6/27/25
Untitled Star Wars previously dated on 12/19/25 moves to 5/22/26
Avengers: Secret Wars previously dated 5/1/26 is now dated on 5/7/27
Untitled Star Wars is now dated 12/18/26
Avatar 4 (20th) previously dated on 12/18/26 moves to 12/21/29
Avatar 5 (20th) previously dated on 12/22/28 moves to 12/19/31
Source: Hollywood Reporter
