Sony made significant changes to its theatrical calendar in response to the ongoing actors and writers strikes. One of the major changes was the removal of “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” from its spring 2024 release date. The studio also had to rework its marketing plans for the film “Gran Turismo” as its stars, including Orlando Bloom and David Harbour, were unable to promote the movie. It will now have sneak previews on its original weekend date of August 11, followed by a wide release on August 25.
In addition to these changes, Sony also shifted the release date for “Kraven the Hunter” from October to August 2024. They did not want to release the film without a full marketing and publicity push that included Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays the Spider-Man villain. Other notable changes include the postponement of the untitled “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” sequel from December 2023 to March 2024, and the relocation of the untitled “Karate Kid” movie from June 2024 to December 2024.
Sony’s decision to make these changes confirms the fears of cinema owners that major disruptions would occur in the film release calendar as a result of the strikes. While other studios are still in a wait-and-see mode regarding their fall and winter tentpole releases, Sony’s rearrangement of its schedule may prompt them to make similar changes. This suggests that the strikes are expected to continue for a significant period of time.
The removal of “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” from the calendar is particularly significant as it is part of a successful franchise. The film, which was set to open over the Easter holidays in 2024, had to be taken off the schedule because actors were unable to do any voice work. The previous installment, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” had earned an impressive $677 million at the global box office.
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Even before the strikes, the “Spider-Verse” features were already expected to be delayed as they are complex projects that aim to push the boundaries of animation. The pressure to deliver a groundbreaking film, like the original “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, adds to the challenges faced by the filmmakers.
As for “Gran Turismo,” Sony had to come up with an alternative marketing approach due to the absence of its stars. Instead of a wide release, the studio decided to test whether word of mouth could drive the movie’s success by having sneak previews for two weeks before its nationwide release.
The strike-related changes also affected the release of other films. “Kraven the Hunter” was moved to a later date to ensure a proper marketing campaign centered around Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The untitled “Karate Kid” movie’s development has stalled due to the strike, leading to its relocation to a later date.
Amidst these changes, Sony also announced release dates for two tentpole movies for the first time. The untitled “Bad Boys” sequel is set to hit theaters on June 14, 2024, and will coincide with Father’s Day weekend. The film stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and the directors of “Bad Boys for Life” will return to helm the project. The third installment of the “Venom” franchise will be released on July 12, 2024. Tom Hardy will reprise his role as the Marvel anti-hero, with his longtime collaborator Kelly Marcel taking on the role of director.
Overall, these adjustments to Sony’s theatrical calendar highlight the impact of the ongoing actors and writers strikes on the film industry. The uncertainty surrounding the strikes has led to significant disruptions, and other studios may follow suit in making similar changes to their release plans. The situation remains precarious, as the box office has yet to fully recover from the pandemic, and the strikes threaten to disrupt the industry’s recovery efforts.
