We’ve now seen that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t just affecting 2020 films. Instead, the delay of the 2020 films is having a ripple effect on the rest of the film release schedule leading into 2021. So, as crazy as it seems, people are wondering if films such as “The Suicide Squad” (currently with an August 2021 release date) could be affected by the pandemic.
According to a social media post by the film’s director, James Gunn, fans don’t have to worry about that happening. At least, not yet.
The filmmaker tweeted, “Right now there’s no reason for #TheSuicideSquad release date to move. We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting & set up editing from our homes (due to a post production team & studio with foresight) before quarantine.”
But we have to remember that Gunn isn’t just working on “The Suicide Squad.” Obviously, given that he’s actively in post-production on that superhero film means that it could be the one most easily affected by COVID-19. However, he’s also in development of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” And considering that Disney/Marvel Studios just announced a complete shift in release dates for Phase 4 (beginning with “Black Widow” hitting theaters this November), should we be concerned that ‘Guardians 3’ is going to be delayed?
According to Gunn, not at all.
“Right now the plans with Vol 3 are also exactly the same as they were before coronavirus,” he later tweeted.
Of course, those plans are still shrouded in mystery. We know that the film is coming. We know that ‘Vol. 3’ is assumed to be part of Phase 4. However, unlike the bulk of the new wave of Marvel Studios projects, we never had an official release date for the sequel. So, we don’t have any delays to report. In that sense, sure, ‘Guardians 3’ hasn’t changed.
With “Captain Marvel 2” added to July 2022, it would appear that the earliest we could see the new ‘Guardians’ film is in the fall of that year. And considering that “The Suicide Squad” is expected to be released on August 6, 2021, that would give Gunn a full year for production on the new Marvel film. So, that timeline still makes sense.