Warner Bros. is weighing several options when it comes to finally releasing Wonder Woman 1984.
According to Variety, the studio is considering releasing the sequel to 2017's Wonder Woman on Christmas Day as currently planned for a limited run in theaters before putting it on HBO Max in January. The other option is to delay the film until summer 2021.
Wonder Woman 1984 faced multiple delays before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic hit, moving from Dec. 13, 2019 to Nov. 1, 2019 to June 5, 2020. However, after the pandemic forced theaters to close for the summer, Warner Bros. shifted the date to Oct. 2. It was once again moved, this time to Christmas Day. The hope was that by that time, the virus would be under control and theater chains could at least partially reopen. However, many theaters remain closed and the public is in no mood to see movies on the big screen. Yesterday, the United States recorded over 100,000 new cases of the virus.
Warner Bros. hesitancy to release the film this December comes after its other 2020 blockbuster Tenet underperformed at the box office. Christopher Nolan's film has grossed over $50 million domestically, a far cry from the expected $200+ million before the pandemic hit. It has done better overseas, grossing close to $300 million. However, with a production budget of $200 million, it is unclear if the film will make a profit.
However, Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins has made it clear that the film will not skip theaters entirely. "Direct-to-streaming is not even being discussed. We are still 100% behind the theatrical experience for [Wonder Woman 1984] and supporting our beloved theater business," she said in early October.
If Wonder Woman 1984 is indeed delayed to next year, it would join a host of other 2020 films that moved to 2021, including Black Widow, Eternals, F9, Candyman, The King's Man, Morbius, No Time to Die, A Quiet Place Part II and Godzilla vs. Kong.
Created by writer and psychologist William Moulton Marston and artist Harry G. Peter, Wonder Woman made her debut in All Star Comics #8 in October 1941. A founding member of the Justice League, she is the most iconic female superhero in the world.
Directed and co-written by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal and Natasha Rothwell. The film is expected to arrive in theaters Dec. 25.
Source: Variety