Marvel’s “Shang-Chi” To Debut Exclusively In Theaters
The state of cinema, in general, has been up in the air for over a year now due to the pandemic. Several smaller chains have actually shut down because of the dramatic drop in patronage. And even the bigger companies, like AMC and Cinemark, are barely holding on. However, there have been small upticks over the last few months, especially with high profile releases like Godzilla vs. Kong and Mortal Kombat and there might be some light at the end of the tunnel, as Disney CEO Bob Chapek has announced that the upcoming Marvel film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will be a theater exclusive upon its debut.
Chapek confirmed this news during an earnings call yesterday, stating that a “return to moviegoing is now within sight, although the recovery of the global box office won’t be instantaneous.” Specifically, Shang-Chi, which releases on September 3rd, will have an exclusive 45-day run in theaters before transitioning to traditional VOD services.
Of note is that the Marvel blockbuster won’t get the “Premier Access” treatment that Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon did. However, this won’t affect all the other major summer Disney films, like Jungle Cruise and fellow MCU entry, Black Widow, which will have hybrid VOD/theatrical releases. This doesn’t mean, though, that “Premier Access” is finished, with Chapek claiming that “flexibility is a key component of our distribution strategy.”
This news comes on the heels of Disney+ subscriptions lagging behind expectations. The Mouse House announced they currently have 103.6 million subscribers, which is well below the Wall Street predictions of 110 million subscribers at this point. Given that the streamer surged past the early estimations, it seems normal for thing to start to even out.
Whatever the case, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is looking to be Hollywood’s first real test to whether audiences will flock back to cinemas as the country gets a handle on COVID and vaccinations are becoming more widespread.
