Black Widow & Cruella to Release Day-and-Date on Disney+ and In Theaters

Disney is bringing both Black Widow and Cruella to Disney+ simultaneously with their theatrical release. The company announced on Tuesday that Cruella will arrive day-and-date in theaters and on Disney+ through Premier Access on May 28th, while Black Widow has been bumped back to a July 9th release both in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access.

The Premier Access strategy is the same strategy that saw Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon arrive on Disney+ for a $29.99 price. While both films had somewhat muted box office receipts, Disney has said that they were both successful when the receipts from the Disney+ purchases are counted in.

The strategy suggests that Disney is not yet confident in theatrical distribution as theaters prepare to open in major markets. Films have struggled to make headway in theaters due to the pandemic as theaters in the biggest markets have largely remained closed.

“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences. By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution.

Disney also announced that Pixar’s latest film Luca will release exclusively on Disney+ on June 18th. It’s a similar release strategy to Soul, which bowed on the service on Christmas day.

Finally, the studio has announced several release dates for major films have shifted, as you can see below:

* Free Guy – August 13th (Previously May 21st)
* Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – September 3rd (Previously July 9th)
* The King’s Man – December 22nd (Previously August 20th)
* Deep Water – January 14th, 2022 (Previously August 13th, 2021)
* Death on the Nile – February 11, 2022 (Previously September 21st, 2021)