Black Widow Still Releasing In Theaters, But Could Be Pushed Back Again

Marvel's Black Widow is set to release on May 7 this year, after being delayed from May 2020. Disney's CEO Bob Chapek stated in the company's latest earnings call that movie will still be released in theaters, but it sounds like there is a chance it could be delayed again depending on numerous factors.

During the Q1 Disney earnings call, Chapek was asked about whether or not Black Widow will release theatrically in May. "We are still intending it to be a theatrical release," he explained. "But, again, we are going to be watching very carefully. The reopening of theaters, and the consumer sentiment--in terms of the desire to go back to theaters--to see whether that strategy needs to be revisited. But as of now, the strategy is to continue on with the theatrical release, and we'll be watching very, very carefully."

Black Widow coming to Disney+'s Premier Access seems out of the question. The next film to be a part of the streaming service's premium section is the animated film Raya and the Last Dragon, which arrives on March 5.

Disney is holding firm with a theatrical release, but because it's unknown when movie theaters can safely reopen to the general public, Black Widow's May 7 release date may not be set it stone. It very well could see another delay. And Chapek's response didn't seem very reassuring for a May release, but time will tell.

Black Widow was originally going to be released on May 1, 2020 then got pushed to November of that year before landing on the May 7, 2021 release--a full year after its original planned premiere.

The first movie in Phase 4 of the MCU takes place before Avengers: Endgame, for obvious reasons. It stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and David Harbour as Red Guardian as MCU fans finally get a fuller backstory on just who Black Widow is and where she came from.