Moving the movies

IN YET another sign that this pandemic isn’t expected to go anywhere anytime soon, movie companies are rescheduling their releases—and all but killing the summer blockbuster season. For years, fans have been used to seeing the biggest movies during the summer months.

But summer movie season isn’t exactly at the top of the nation’s priority list just now. Surviving this pandemic is.

And what a summer this was set to be, with releases like

Black Widow and a new Wonder Woman movie. The new Ghostbusters has been moved. Fans were even getting yet another Fast and Furious movie—No. 19 or something. All of that has been scattered to the wind.

The Top Gun sequel hasn’t been rescheduled yet, nor has the new Christopher Nolan flick, but it’s probably only a matter of time, according to Variety. Here’s more from the entertainment news outlet:

“Even if theaters nationwide are able to open by late summer, the importance of global revenues means studios will have to take into consideration how the rest of the world is recovering from the health crisis before setting new launch dates. It won’t make much sense to unveil a film like Disney’s Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt or Top Gun Maverick if a majority of theaters in Asia and Europe—where action stars are a huge theatrical draw—are closed.”

Some studios have experimented with making new movies available on digital platforms faster than before. Pixar’s new cartoon Onward was available on digital platforms for purchase not long after theaters shut down.

Coronavirus has changed the landscape of several American industries for the foreseeable future. While some folks might miss going to the movies, for now, the rest of us are just glad to have groceries and medication.

Because, priorities.