Blumhouse producer Jason Blum says the public should set their expectations very low for Marvel Studios' return amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Los Angeles Times interviewed a number of Hollywood movers and shakers about the film and television industry's post-pandemic future, and Blum gave his thoughts on big-budget films -- specifically Marvel -- returning to production in the current climate. "I do think smaller productions will start sooner, but I don’t think we’re going to see Marvel movies shooting, or big expensive movies, until 2021," he said. "The real answer to your question is that it’s all about when testing will be in this country as good it is in other places, which it isn’t yet."
Blum's words were not without merit, as Marvel's Phase Four slate experienced some major reshuffling after the pandemic impacted Black Widow's May 1 release date. That film ended up taking The Eternals' Nov. 6 release date, which caused a domino effect for the studio.
Like Blum, others felt smaller film productions would take priority over more expensive films, given the pandemic's financial impact on the industry. Producer Roy Lee mentioned being "optimistic that there will be a plan in place to allow for smaller-scale productions to start." He believed films with smaller casts and fewer location shoots would be the industry's safest way to ease back into working again.
Black Widow is expected to arrive in theaters on Nov. 6 and Eternals follows on Feb. 12, 2021; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on May 7, 2021; Spider-Man 3 on Nov. 5, 2021; Thor: Love and Thunder on Feb. 11, 2022; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on March 25, 2022; Black Panther 2 on May 6, 2022 and Captain Marvel 2 on July 8, 2022.