‘Black Widow’ Release Date Moved to July This Year

Disney is revising its release strategy again for the forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe entry Black Widow.

According to plans, the film will be released in theaters on July 9. It will also launch on the studio’s streaming platform Disney+ on the same day. Disney has previously published Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Mulan in a similar fashion. The latter two fall under the “Premier Access” banner, where it charges an additional $29.99. The MCU tentpole was initially set to begin in May 2020 before the pandemic dragged it first to November 6, 2020, and then to May 7, 2021.

Black Widow features Scarlett Johansson as the title’s S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and shrewd KGB assassin. The Black Widow script, written by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson, picks up after the events of Captain America: Civil War. The story uncovers Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, on the lam and steering to Russia to confront her past.

She’s accompanied by indie sensation and Little Women Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. The cast also comprises Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and more. Before Black Widow, filmmaker Cate Shortland steered the films Berlin Syndrome and Lore, among other internationally applauded features.

The release date for Black Widow changes as leading studios continue to push out their releases either in theaters, on PVOD platforms, or a combination of both. Warner Bros. made a powerful statement back in early December last year when it confirmed that all of its 2021 titles, including major movies like Dune, The Matrix 4, Godzilla vs. Kong, Judas and the Black Messiah, and The Suicide Squad, would publish the same day and date on rookie streaming platform HBO Max and in whatever theaters are accessible.

However, WB announced on March 23 that its 2022 slate would obtain a 45-day window with Regal Cinemas, proposing a recommitment to theatrical releases.

Apart from Black Widow, Emma Stone-starrer Cruella will be released in theaters and on Disney+ via Premier Access on Friday, May 28. Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar’s Luca will stream instantly in homes on Disney+ starting from Friday, June 18, without any additional charge.

About Black Widow

Black Widow is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Directed by Cate Shortland and written by Eric Pearson, the movie stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff alongside Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz.

It will be the first film in Phase Four of the MCU, and was delayed three times from an original May 2020 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disney confirms Marvel Studios’ Black Widow will release on Disney+ for no extra cost to existing subscribers after its Premier Access release, October 6.

The film follows Natasha Romanoff as she confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.