Disney CEO Explains Why SHANG-CHI Isn't Getting A Disney+ Release; ETERNALS Still Set For November

Disney CEO Explains Why SHANG-CHI Isn't Getting A Disney+ Release; ETERNALS Still Set For November

Despite concerns about the Delta variant of COVID-19, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is still heading exclusively to theaters. Why? We have details on that and an update on Eternals's debut.

News
By JoshWilding - Aug 13, 2021 01:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Shang-Chi
Source: The DisInsider

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to be released in theaters on September 3, but with concerns surrounding the Delta variant of COVID-19, there's been plenty of talk online about it heading down the Premier Access route on Disney+. That's not happening, though, and we finally got an explanation during Disney's investor call yesterday evening. 

According to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, due to distribution agreements, it's simply too late to change how the Marvel Studios movie will be rolled out next month. However, it's still going to be something of an experiment for Disney because Shang-Chi will have a 45-day exclusive window in theaters before it's made available on Digital platforms (45 days is obviously much shorter than the standard 90 day window).

Apparently, Disney will be keeping an eye on this to see how it works for future movies. 

Oh, and for those of you wondering why Free Guy isn't heading down the Premier Access route, it's because Disney inherited that movie from Fox, and a theatrical debut was agreed on long before the pandemic.

Something that rang alarm bells for many fans tuning into this earnings call was when Chapek referred to Eternals as a 2022 movie. Don't panic, though: he was actually talking about fiscal 2022, and it's since been confirmed that the Marvel Studios movie will still be released on November 5, this year.

We'll keep you guys updated should anything change! 

Is SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Star Simu Liu Teasing His Long-Awaited MCU Return?
Related:

Is SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS Star Simu Liu Teasing His Long-Awaited MCU Return?
SHANG-CHI Star Simu Liu Says Sequel Is Definitely Happening With Director Destin Daniel Cretton
Recommended For You:

SHANG-CHI Star Simu Liu Says Sequel Is "Definitely Happening" With Director Destin Daniel Cretton

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?
Want to contribute?
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 8/13/2021, 1:50 AM
"a theatrical debut was agreed on long before the pandemic."

I kinda assumed that since Black Widow was already almost done when the pandemic hit in march last year, contract were drawn up atleast a year before that even. Doubt Premier Access, even just Disney+ was in contract talks too. Guess not
LSHF
LSHF - 8/13/2021, 3:17 AM
@bkmeijer - Per Wikipedia:

"The production filmed for 87 days, and officially wrapped on October 6, 2019."

So, the filming was done before the pandemic.
JDL
JDL - 8/13/2021, 3:31 AM
@bkmeijer - What happened was that the Pay One rights had already been sold to HBO Max. When those expire then it can show up elsewhere. Of course it's possible that Fox sold some or all of the other pay windows as well.
kirklazarus87
kirklazarus87 - 8/13/2021, 1:51 AM
LSHF
LSHF - 8/13/2021, 3:17 AM
@kirklazarus87 - Eventually, yes.
Origame
Origame - 8/13/2021, 6:35 AM
@kirklazarus87 - God I hope so.
m1doriya
m1doriya - 8/13/2021, 7:47 AM
@kirklazarus87 -
ElricReturns
ElricReturns - 8/13/2021, 1:53 AM
I don't think we will get a true measure of what the MCU can pull in terms of post pandemic numbers until Spiderman. With Chang Chi and Eternals and a solo black Widow film are all relatively untested franchises with no box office history to compare each I.P.s popularity to, so I can't really see those films being MUST SEE into the billions with the safety of the world still debatable.

I'd bet they push most of these to next year after a few more box office flops like Dune and maybe Shang Chi flops.
LSHF
LSHF - 8/13/2021, 3:18 AM
@ElricReturns - Makes sense.
MikeDrop1
MikeDrop1 - 8/13/2021, 4:19 AM
@ElricReturns -

Shang Chi won't flop and will more than likely make more than black widow box office.
ElricReturns
ElricReturns - 8/13/2021, 4:21 AM
@MikeDrop1 - I hope you are right, but everything has flopped since th3 pandemic. I don't see Shang Chi being the first successful movie.
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 8/13/2021, 4:53 AM
@ElricReturns - and things actually got a little better but are worse again. So the billion dollar movies are even further in the future, if they ever will make 1 billion again. I think movie theaters and streaming services were evolving towards some thing but the pushback from Scarlett Johansson and other stars was unexpected. In other words it looked like it was going to be one way, and now it’s harder to tell. Disney and Disney+ says one thing, Warner and AMC says another thing, Black widow did OK for a flop but is stopping the experiment, suicide squad flopped really hard Idiot they’re streaming experiment will continue. When is scared of people, the other one is scared of the pandemic. It really is a big social experiment, but I don’t want to get political, I just mean to say it’s interesting to see this playing out because now we have two different scenarios so that we can see which one would work or which would fail. Personally I think both of them will fail.
LameLuka
LameLuka - 8/13/2021, 5:11 AM
@ElricReturns - Fast 9, Godzilla vs Kong, A Quiet Place 2, Conjuring 3 have all done pretty well
ElricReturns
ElricReturns - 8/13/2021, 5:14 AM
@LameLuka - in this new way they are framing post pandemic numbers... perhaps. Compared to pre pandemic box office numbers, not even slightly close. Those movies put up a fraction of what they were expecting prior to the pandemic. It will likely be years till we see a new movie approach anything close to a billion.
kitheka
kitheka - 8/13/2021, 6:35 AM
@Scarilian - black widow definitely broke even. Add $360m to min. $100m on D+. So it will make around $500m when it's all done. That's decent under the circumstances and it will have made its money back.
Matador
Matador - 8/13/2021, 6:44 AM
@ElricReturns - Like you I have no interest in Black Widow that ship sailed two years ago, Shang Chi no interest I've never read the books but maybe the foreign market might enjoy it (China), Morbius forgetful, Venom 2 ugh and Eternals looks meh more like a filler.

DC what?
Only movies I'm looking forward is Spiderman 3, Dr. Strange, and GOTG3 other than that I'm not missing out just IMO.
MikeDrop1
MikeDrop1 - 8/13/2021, 9:41 AM
@kitheka -

it made 100 million on Disney plus? Dam
kitheka
kitheka - 8/13/2021, 10:14 AM
@MikeDrop1 - just q rough estimate since it made 60m opening weekend on D+. It's a fair estimate to assume it earned an additional 40m since then factoring account sharing and piracy.
Mugens
Mugens - 8/13/2021, 3:21 AM
That might be the excuse he uses against ScarJo's lawsuit, but not sure if it is believable or going to work.
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/13/2021, 5:01 AM
these next 2 movies look so bad. But they say Marvel Studios in the trailers so people will be throwing their money at them.
TheShellyMan
TheShellyMan - 8/13/2021, 7:27 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO -
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 8/13/2021, 8:03 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - A swing and a miss !
MikeDrop1
MikeDrop1 - 8/13/2021, 9:38 AM
@WEAPONXOXOXO -

"these next 2 movies look so bad. But they say Marvel Studios in the trailers so people will be throwing their money at them."

1 that isn't true, just because your not looking forward to it. I know most people are, and 2 if people throw money at it. Then it is what it is.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 8/13/2021, 3:06 PM
@WEAPONXOXOXO - troll
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 8/14/2021, 12:07 PM
@RegularPoochie - pizza
WeaponXCII
WeaponXCII - 8/13/2021, 5:54 AM
“We don’t want another lawsuit.”
TheShellyMan
TheShellyMan - 8/13/2021, 7:27 AM
Eternals box office looking uncertain for me.
generictheeric
generictheeric - 8/13/2021, 9:11 AM
We all know it's because they want that sweet China money, especially after another certain dual-release didn't exactly pay off.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 8/13/2021, 3:06 PM
@generictheeric - well they won't get it, because it will not be released in China probably.
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/13/2021, 1:54 PM
It won't be on Disney Plus because they don't want another lawsuit, but I guess the new stars of the MCU won't put up a fight like Scarlet.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 8/14/2021, 4:19 PM
@marvel72 - that's not the reason.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 8/14/2021, 5:16 PM
I'll have to avoid spoilers for 45 days or so in that case.
Related Headlines
Latest Headlines

Hot Headlines Hot Headlines

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Anime & Manga

Gaming

Horror

Cartoons & Animated Features

Action Movies & TV

Pro Wrestling & MMA News
View Recorder