Yesterday, you probably noticed that the entertainment world began to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. Films were delayed (“F9,” “A Quiet Place 2,” etc…) and TV shows went on hiatus. Basically, in terms of Hollywood, the COVID-19 scare has taken over. And that means even the biggest studios, such as Marvel Studios, aren’t immune, which leads us to the news about “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
According to THR, ‘Shang-Chi’ director, Destin Daniel Cretton, has self-isolated as he undergoes testing for COVID-19, which is putting the first-unit production of the film on hold for the time being. The note that was sent to the members of the production in Australia mentions the filmmaker’s newborn baby and his cautious approach to the illness that has been affecting thousands of folks around the world.
READ MORE: ‘F9’ Delay: Coronavirus Forces ‘Fast & Furious’ Sequel To Move To 2021
The good news is that this doesn’t seem to have a major effect on the production of the superhero film, as filming is continuing, but without first-unit. Of course, if there’s a longer delay, ‘Shang-Chi’ could find itself in a bit of a pickle, but for now, it appears that Cretton is just being cautious.
That being said, we have yet to find out what Marvel Studios is planning on doing with “Black Widow,” which is set to hit theaters at the beginning of May. If that film gets delayed, the domino effect would likely lead to the rest of Marvel’s slate getting delayed. But for now, that’s just conjecture. We’ll have to wait and see.
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is set to arrive in theaters on February 12, 2021. For now, at least.
This is the full note that was sent to the crew:
“As many of you know, Destin, our director, has a new born baby. He wanted to exercise additional caution given the current environment and decided to get tested for Covid-19 today. He is currently self-isolating under the recommendation of his doctor. While he waits for the results of the test, we are suspending 1st unit production in an abundance of caution until he gets the results this coming week. Second unit and off production will continue as normal. We will reach out to everyone by Tuesday for the latest update.
“This is an unprecedented time. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work through this.”