What I Heard This Week: Marvel Studios Production Timeline

Note: most of this was written in advance of today’s news. I had no intention of actually publishing it, but the news makes it seem fairly important now.

Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. Typically, when the second scenario occurs, I move on and forget about the information unless, in rare instances, it turns out to be proven true somewhere down the road. For instance, on February 19th, I wrote this piece relaying some rumors I’d heard about Marvel Studios updating its Disney Plus slate; the next day, the news broke that a special Disney Plus event would be held in London on March 5th where it is expected that Marvel Studios and Star Wars slates will be updated.

Today’s news that Marvel Studios has essentially delayed their entire slate by one date (ie Black Widow is taking Eternals date while Eternals is taking Shang-Chi’s) makes this potential tidbit, which I referenced on my Twitter feed earlier this week, a little more relevant and gave me enough motivation to finally get back on the keyboard.





















A thing I heard this week: one potential timeline being discussed at Marvel Studios is returning to work in September.

While the world is experiencing the historical COVID-19 pandemic, we are all waiting for news on our favorite distractions and, at this time, none of the news looks too good. As Marvel Studios has suspended productions all over the world, the heads have convened and began studying models that might allow them to determine when they can get back to work. One current projection being talked about in both Atlanta and Los Angeles is a September return to work.

Obviously this has a ton of ramifications IF IT IS TRUE. Eternals hasn’t completed reshoots; Shang-Chi hasn’t completed filming; Doctor Strange 2, Spider-Man 3, Thor 4 and all the Disney Plus shows will be pushed and there will be a tremendous domino effect that will see things moved in sequence (probably including the Disney Plus shows) and even off the schedule (note, as of publishing this actually happened to Ant-Man 3…sadness).

We’ll have to see if this turns out to be true or not, but it seems that, at this point, Marvel Studios is sticking to plans for theatrical releases for all their films and is willing to wait this out.