Wonder Woman 1984 release has been postponed from October to Christmas Day.
The superhero sequel from Warner Bros., starring Gal Gadot, which was originally scheduled to release in December 2019 was postponed to a June 2020 debut in order to accommodate Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Then as a result of the pandemic, the film was delayed to August and further to October 2.
However, according to a report by Variety, the film is now set to debut on Dec. 25, 2020. The delay this time is because the studio wants a bigger audience in theaters. Warner Bros. recently released Christopher Nolan’s Tenet over Labor Day weekend, marking the first major big-screen release since theatres closed in March due to COVID-19.
By delaying WW84, the studio is hoping for better ticket sales and response than Tenet. The delay is also not entirely unexpected given that Wonder Woman is a very important franchise with a rather high production cost for Warner Bros. which means mediocre ticket sales isn’t something the studio would be willing to risk.
The report which cited Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chairman, states that the studio looks forward to bringing it to audiences for the holidays. Emmerich said, “ Patty is an exceptional filmmaker and with ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ she has delivered an incredibly dynamic film that moviegoers of all ages around the world will absolutely love.”
Director Patty Jenkins added:
First and foremost let me say how much Gal and I love all our devoted Wonder Woman fans around the world, and your excitement for ‘WW84’ couldn’t make us happier or more eager for you to see the movie. Because I know how important it is to bring this movie to you on a big screen when all of us can share the experience together, I’m hopeful you won’t mind waiting just a little bit longer. With the new date on Christmas Day, we can’t wait to spend the holidays with you!
Given the success of the first Wonder Woman film in 2017 and Warner Bros. consistent box office success with its DC holiday releases, it’s no surprise that the studio would want to delay the release of the sequel.
While nearly 70% of movie theaters in the U.S. have reopened, some of the important markets like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco remain close. The hope now is that theaters in New York and Los Angeles will also be able to open by Christmas Day this year.
What are your thoughts on Wonder Woman 1984 being postponed again? Did you expect it? Are you planning to watch the film this Christmas? Comment below!
