2021 has been a struggle at times for Marvel Studios as the team works through the challenge of how to release its content. While the franchise is adding new successes with its run on Disney+, the theatrical releases have forced Marvel to make some tough calls with no guarantees of them working out.
After the debacle that came from Black Widow’s release, the MCU appears to be somewhat back on track with the accomplishments of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Simu Liu’s solo outing became the highest-grossing Labor Day weekend release ever, helping Marvel begin its long-awaited return to box office dominance that hasn’t been seen in two years.
Shang-Chi also had another bit of pressure riding on its potential success, as its box office earnings would be the measuring stick for Marvel Studios on the decision to potentially delay November’s Eternals. It appears that this decision has been made, and it should be encouraging to the MCU fandom.
Eternals Gets Its Theatrical Window For Marvel
IndieWire revealed that Disney has officially confirmed plans for Marvel Studios' Eternals to have a 45-day exclusive theatrical run. Because of this theatrical commitment, the movie will not be available on Disney+ or any other service until after this window is complete (December 20, 2021, at the earliest).
This is the same 45-day window that was set for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in May ahead of its September debut.
Phase 4's Run In Theaters Still Going Strong
Marvel Studios has had a roller-coaster of a ride in theaters due to the pandemic in 2021, although prospects appear to be on the upswing for the near future. Thanks to Shang-Chi performing so well over its first few days in theaters, Disney and Marvel appear confident that Eternals will have a similar run of success.
With Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige's persistence on keeping the MCU's big-screen releases in theaters, this should come as a big win for the folks that run this content machine. As the state of public affairs hopefully improves over the coming months, fans should have the chance to build up hype for this highly-anticipated theatrical outing.
While no date was given for Eternals to land on Disney+, it should be expected that this won't happen until likely early in 2022.
In the end, with all the chatter surrounding Eternals, it seems only right that Chloé Zhao's pet project receives the grand-scale experience that it deserves. With an all-star cast of A-listers and reportedly the best pitch for a movie Feige's ever heard, Disney and Marvel are hoping for another winner on the big screen, as are the fans.
Eternals will release exclusively in theaters on November 5, 2021.
