Sony Pictures Entertainment has made significant changes to its upcoming release calendar due to the ongoing actors and writers strikes. As part of the reshuffling, the highly anticipated “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” has been removed from its original spring 2024 release date. The film’s immense popularity and success as part of the Spider-Verse franchise make it a notable casualty of the strike-related delays. The movie, which was set to open on March 29, 2024, will now face an uncertain release timeline as actors are unable to perform voice work during the labor disputes.
“Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” is the follow-up to the genre-breaking hit “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018), which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The sequel was already expected to be delayed before the strike, but the ongoing labor unrest has further complicated the production process. The pressure is high to deliver another groundbreaking installment, and the creative team, including writer-producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is diligently working to shape the film’s narrative.
Meanwhile, the August racing film “Gran Turismo” has also seen adjustments to its release plans. With stars like Orlando Bloom and David Harbour unable to promote the movie, Sony has decided to build buzz through nationwide sneak previews. The film, originally scheduled for August 11, will now open wide on August 25, with sneak previews on both the original date and the weekend of August 18.
Other major changes include shifting the release date for “Kraven the Hunter” from October 2023 to August 30, 2024. Sony is determined to give the R-rated action film the full marketing and publicity push it deserves, centered around lead actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who portrays the Spider-Man villain Kraven. Additionally, the studio has moved the Karate Kid movie from June 7, 2024, to December 13, 2024, due to stalled development amid the strikes.
Sony’s calendar shake-up isn’t entirely strike-related, as some changes are unrelated to the labor unrest. For instance, the untitled Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel has been moved from its original December 20, 2023, date to March 29, 2024. The highly anticipated movie will see Jason Reitman producing and writing, with Gil Kenan directing.
Despite the uncertainty caused by the ongoing strikes, Sony has also announced dates for two tentpole films: “Bad Boys 4” will hit theaters on June 14, 2024, while “Venom 3” is set for release on July 12, 2024. Both films promise to be exciting additions to their respective franchises.
With the industry closely monitoring the impact of the strikes on movie releases, other studios are still in a wait-and-see mode for their big fall and winter tentpoles. The disruption caused by the strikes is raising concerns among cinema owners, who fear major disturbances in both this year’s and next year’s film calendars.
The uncertainties in the entertainment industry come at a precarious time when the box office is witnessing a historic burst of growth, thanks to successful movies like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” As Sony takes decisive action to adapt its release calendar, industry professionals and moviegoers alike are eager to see how the situation unfolds in the coming months.