In its biggest pandemic-related streaming move, Disney has now opted to make its upcoming movies, ‘Black Widow’ and ‘Cruella’, available on its streaming service Disney+ Premier Access at the same time that the films hit theatres.
‘Black Widow’, which was set for a May 7 release, will now be coming out on July 9. Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch it on the day of its release for an additional $30. Previously Disney had released ‘Mulan’ and ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ for the same price through the Premier Access tier. Similarly, the Emma Stone film ‘Cruella’ will debut in theatres and on Disney+ Premier Access on May 28. Meanwhile, the animated Disney Pixar film ‘Luca’ will skip big screens entirely and hit Disney+ on June 18.
Kareem Daniel, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution chairman, stated, “Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences.”
“By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world.”
New release dates were also revealed for a few upcoming Disney films with Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Free Guy’ moved to August 13, whilst Marvel’s ‘Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ will debut on September 3.
Fans have long been awaiting the release of ‘Black Widow’, which was originally set to premiere in theatres in March 2020 but was pushed back several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie will be set after the events of 2016’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and will see Natasha Romanoff on the run. Along with Scarlett Johansson, the film also stars Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour.
