If you thought the Bond delay was long, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Universal Pictures has announced that “F9: The Fast Saga,” the ninth installment in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, has pushed back its theatrical release date by an entire year – to April 2nd 2021.
Universal reportedly made the decision because of the impact that the fast-moving coronavirus is having on the global economy and distribution landscape with cinemas remaining closed in Italy, South Korea, and China along with mounting fears some cinemas will close in the U.S. as the outbreak continues to spread.
This follows on from the James Bond film “No Time to Die,” the family sequel “Peter Rabbit 2,” smaller films like the Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae-led romancer “The Lovebirds” and the British import “Blue Story,” and the horror sequel “A Quiet Place Part II” which are all pushing back their planned April releases at a cost of tens of millions.
With the ‘Furious’ franchise films costing at least $200 million each and making roughly 75% of the gross overseas, making the film profitable with so many cinemas closed was looking tricky.
This also leaves questions as to whether Disney’s two costly blockbusters “Mulan” in late March and “Black Widow” in early May, the only two tentpoles left to open before June, will make the move as well.
#F9 pic.twitter.com/agQAFNLm9w
— #F9 (@TheFastSaga) March 12, 2020
Source: Variety
