If memory serves correctly, Sony Pictures was one of the first studios to shift their release date calendar in the wake of the big 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with another calamity in front of the film industry—the dual WGA (writers) & SAG (actors) strikes—the company is again pretty much the first studio to respond and delay their release calendar in reply.
Announced late on Friday, Sony unveiled a big delay in all their upcoming projects, the biggest being “Beyond The Spider-Verse,” the sequel to “Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse.” Those in the know will know and not be surprised. Originally scheduled for March 2024, it’s been reported and rumored that ‘Beyond The Spider-Verse’ was running behind and would likely not meet its March 2024 date regardless of whether the strike happened or not. So yes, you’re likely looking at a 2025 date for ‘Beyond The Spider-Verse,’ regardless and as producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller like to push the animation to its limits and beyond.
However, the film to be affected first is “Kraven,” a ‘Spider-Man’ spin-off film starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the Spidey supervillain, Kraven The Hunter. Directed by J.C. Chandor (“A Most Violent Year,” “Triple Frontier”), “Kraven” was originally scheduled for a October 6, 2023 release. Thanks to the SAG-AFTRA conflict, Sony is pushing the Marvel outing “Kraven” to an August 30, 2024 release. That’s labor day and traditionally a dumping ground season, but in recent years, Marvel has made good on that slot with “Shang Chi: The Legend Of The Ten Rings,” so maybe anything is possible.
A sequel to Jason Reitman’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” the Paul Rudd-starring ‘Ghostbusters’ film that grossed over $200 million worldwide, was originally scheduled at Christmas (Dec 20) of this year, but because of the strike, Sony is moving the picture to Easter weekend of next year on March 29, 2024.
Other shifted dates include the “Karate Kid” reboot shifted from June 7, 2024, to December 13, 2024, and Blumhouse’s “They Listen,” once planned for August 30, 2024, and now undated.
It wasn’t all delays, however. Sony recently planted flags for several mystery Sony/Marvel films and revealed the titles behind a few of them. For one, the Dakota Johnson-starring Spider-Man universe film, “Madame Web,” is arriving two days early on February 14, 2024 and “Venom 3” has been dated for July 12, 2024. Currently there’s also a summer 2025 Marvel/Sony mystery date open, but what the movie is, hasn’t been revealed yet, despite speculation it could be a fourth “Spider-Man” movie with Tom Holland.
Additionally, “Bad Boys” fans can rejoice as “Bad Boys 4” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, is now set for a June 14, 2024 release date. With “Gran Turismo” out of the gate on August 11, Sony decided to just stay the course with the racer film.
