Sony Pictures has significantly changed its movie release schedule, affecting two highly anticipated films due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors strike.
The live-action Marvel movie “Kraven the Hunter,” featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the ruthless hunter and Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis, will be released on Labor Day weekend in 2024 instead of its original October 2023 date. The animated trilogy finale “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” previously slated for March 2024, has been postponed indefinitely until the strike is resolved.
The decision to delay “Kraven the Hunter” was primarily driven by the need to give Aaron Taylor-Johnson and the rest of the cast, including Oscar winners Ariana DeBose and Russell Crowe, sufficient time to promote the film. In light of the strike, actors have chosen not to participate in promotional activities for major studio projects.
As for “Beyond the Spider-Verse,” the film faced delays as no voice lines had been recorded for the sequel, “Across the Spider-Verse.” Consequently, the production of the animated movie remains suspended until further notice, making it impossible to set a new release date.
Sony has a vested interest in the success of “Beyond the Spider-Verse” as its predecessor, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” received widespread acclaim and became the studio’s highest-grossing animated film, with a global box office revenue of $677 million. The positioning of “Beyond the Spider-Verse” on the 2024 or 2025 release schedule is highly anticipated by moviegoers eager to see how the trilogy’s cliffhanger will be resolved.
The one-year postponement of “Kraven the Hunter” may cause concern among cinema owners, who are already apprehensive about the impact of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes on the film release calendar. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when one studio adjusts its release dates, others follow suit.
Notably, “Kraven” was initially planned to receive support from Imax Auditoriums in October. However, the decision to delay the film came just days after Imax CEO Rich Gelfond expressed confidence that the strike would not affect films backed by his company. Gelfond cited Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Two” as an example when discussing his expectations in an earnings call.
In addition to the changes related to the strikes, Sony also announced other adjustments to its release slate. The upcoming sequel to “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” will now hit theaters during Easter weekend in 2024, while the next installments in the “Bad Boys” and “Venom” franchises are scheduled for summer 2024 releases. These changes are sure to have an impact on the overall film release landscape in the coming years.
