The MCU timeline reportedly won't be affected by the delayed release of Black Widow , the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Phase 4: Official Lineup 16 IMAGES

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Every Delayed Movie Due to Coronavirus (So Far) 47 IMAGES

According to Variety , a Marvel insider recently claimed that "pushing Black Widow affects nothing on the MCU timeline," even though the Cate Shortland-directed film was initially slated to be released on April 24, 2020, in the UK and on May 1, 2020, in the US, marking the official launch of Marvel Studios' Phase 4.Originally, the new era was set to be ushered in with the release of Black Widow this year, followed by The Falcon and The Winter Soldier on Disney+ in August, 2020 , then The Eternals in theatres on November 6, 2020 , and WandaVision on Disney+ in December, 2020 The new slate is expected to offer a coherent collection of interconnected adventures, spanning both television and cinema, with that synergy initially being pushed by the announcement of Elizabeth Olsen's co-starring role as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will not only tie into her Disney+ show WandaVision , but also has a significant connection to the Loki series , which comes to Disney+ in Spring 2021.In these uncertain times, however, it is not clear whether Black Widow will find a release slot ahead of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier or whether other release dates will be shifted around in an attempt to maintain Phase 4's original order.It is also highly possible that the placement of the standalone Black Widow movie, starring Scarlett Johansson, may not be critical to the surrounding events of the other upcoming titles on the slate, especially as it's a prequel that will take place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War , prior to the superhero's sacrificial act to save her friends and restore the Vanished in Avengers: Endgame Whatever the case, Disney has currently put a pause on most of its live-action productions, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , as well as all of its upcoming Disney+ Marvel shows Black Widow joins a growing list of movie and TV productions affected by COVID-19, including Universal's Fast 9, which will now be released in April 2021, almost a year later than originally planned, MGM's No Time to Die, which will now be released in November 2020 , and Paramount's A Quiet Place: Part II, which currently does not have a new release date set . If you would like to read about how COVID-19 could affect the film industry, head here. More importantly, take a look at our list of recommendations to help, and stay safe, during the Coronavirus pandemic

Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter