The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing movies to adjust their release dates, what with movie theaters across the world being closed for an undetermined amount of time. Marvel Studios' films have been a particular focus for moviegoers, since the superhero films typically have a fairly rigid release schedule. Marvel's now provided official new release dates for both Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness as well as Thor: Love and Thunder.
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness will now release on March 25, 2022, and Thor: Love and Thunder will launch on February 11, 2022. That means that there are currently four different Marvel movies planned for release in 2022, with Doctor Strange and Thor joined by Black Panther 2 and Captain Marvel 2.
Further delays for Marvel movies could still be made, as well. While Marvel certainly could pack its schedules for 2021 and 2022 to make up for the lost time in 2020, its historically preferred just two or three Marvel movies in a given year. Disney may decide that's best moving forward and rewrite Marvel's "Phase 4" movie schedule all over again.
For now, the next Marvel movie to arrive in theaters remains Black Widow. Black Widow was originally planned for release on May 1, but was the first Marvel film delayed. Now it'll run on November 6, a six-month push. And even a November release date may be too early depending on the virus's persistence or a resurgence in the fall.