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A new report suggests that Marvel Studios’ Eternals could be delayed again if Shang-Chi underperforms at the box office when it opens on Sept. 3.
Marvel Studios’ Eternals is set to premiere in the United States on Nov. 5. However, a new report suggests that the film could be delayed yet again.
According to Vulture, the fate of the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is tied to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ box office performance. If Simu Liu- and Awkwafina-led film underperforms when it opens on Sept. 3, Eternals could move to later in 2021 or beyond.
Just a few months ago, Marvel was expecting big numbers for Shang-Chi, similar to Black Widow‘s $80 million domestic debut. However, with the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, consumer confidence in theaters has fallen, leading to lower-than-expected gross for The Suicide Squad. (On the other hand, 20th Century Studios’ Free Guy has defied expectations, earning solid numbers in its first two weeks in theaters.) Currently, Shang-Chi is expected to open anywhere between the $35 million and $55 million range. However, some more optimistic analysts can see it reaching $60+ million.
Even with delta spreading, Shang-Chi has a lot going for it. The film is earning great reviews and currently sits at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The studio is also hoping that its appeal to Asian-American moviegoers will spur turnout similar to other box office successes like Crazy Rich Asians, Godzilla vs. Kong and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (the latter two were pandemic-era openings).
At Disney’s last investor call, CEO Bob Chapek ruled out a simultaneous Disney+ Premier Access/theatrical release. “We think it’s going to be an interesting experiment for us. It has only a 45-day window,” he said. This prompted a fiery response by Liu. “We are not an experiment,” he said. “We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise.”
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige addressed the comments at the premiere of the movie. “”He is not a shy man,” Feige said of Liu. “I think in that particular tweet you can see and I think everyone does, a misunderstanding. It was not the intention. The proof is in the movie and we swing for the fences as we always do. With the amount of creative energy we put in and the budget, there’s no expense spared to bring this origin story to the screen.”
Source: Vulture
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