Disney Announces a Major Rescheduling of Marvel films
Article by Kieran Burt.
Disney has announced its upcoming film slate for the next few years, and with it come some major changes to the release dates of upcoming Marvel films. Deadpool 3, Blade, Secret Wars and Fantastic Four have all moved from their release dates.
Marvel has delayed Blade from November 3, 2023 to September 6, 2024. Deadpool 3 has been bumped from its September 6, 2024 spot to November 8, 2024. Fantastic Four has moved from November 8, 2024 to February 14 2025, an untitled Marvel film has been pushed from February 14, 2025 to November 7, 2025, Avengers Secret Wars has been moved from November 7 2025 to May 1, 2026. Another untitled Marvel film, initially set for a May 1, 2026 release, has been removed completely.
In non-Marvel news, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes got a May 24, 2024 release date.
It’s important to note that these delays only affect film dates. There has been no word on whether Disney+ projects set to release after November 3, 2023 like Agatha: Coven of Chaos or Daredevil: Born Again have also been delayed. This shift doesn’t affect all films after November 3, 2023 either, as Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts and Avengers Kang Dynasty all retain their original release dates.
Blade’s delay is unsurprising, given the original director Bassam Tariq announced that he would be leaving the project not long ago. No new director has been announced yet, and Marvel has paused the production on the film.
Blade will star Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire hunter. He has so far appeared very briefly as a voice cameo in the post credits scene in Eternals, but has yet to make his full appearance.
As Marvel films are sequential, this nearly year long delay caused a huge ripple effect across the Cinematic Universe, shattering the reality that had only been set a few months ago. Back at San Diego Comic Con, Kevin Feige announced a huge list of Marvel projects, and charted a path through the next three phases of Marvel.
Ryan Reynolds announced the new Deadpool sequel, along with its release date only a few weeks ago. The film will be the merc with a mouth’s first appearance in the MCU. Ryan Reynolds also broke the news that Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine.
Audiences will now have to wait just a bit longer to see not only Blade and Deadpool to join the MCU, but the Fantastic Four as well. Matt Shakman was announced as the film’s director at D23, though the main roles have yet to be cast. Fans will also have to wait a year between Avengers films instead of getting them six months apart.
The next Marvel film to release will be Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on October 11.
