Wonder Woman 1984 delayed until August

It’s official.

Wonder Woman 1984  is the latest movie in a continuing list of Hollywood films to fall prey to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The rampant spread of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on all sectors and likewise in the entertainment industry, as sports leagues have gone on indefinite hiatus, productions have been halted or canceled, and the release of several major upcoming movies have had to be delayed.

As part of the global effort to help flatten the curve, movie theaters in multiple countries have been indefinitely closed just like how our own shopping malls have been mandated to close their doors. People are being advised to stay at home as often as possible. (Of course, whether they listen and do their part is another matter entirely)

With these conditions prevailing, it looks like it’s going to be some time before we see normalcy come back into our lives.

The second installment to the DC hit movie was due to be released in cinemas in early June, but director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot have now confirmed that the Wonder Woman sequel will be released in August instead.

The announcement of a new date comes after it was confirmed over the weekend that Warner Bros would be releasing the film straight to streaming services following the COVID-19 outbreak. This new confirmation negates the earlier announcement and it is definitely the best news so far for the DC franchise.

Director Patty Jenkins said on Twitter (March 24) that she believes in the power of cinema and that Wonder Woman 1984 was made to be seen on the big screen.

The new opening date for WW1984 was actually set aside for James Wan’s Malignant.

Now, that horror film, along with  Scoob! and the movie version of the Lin Manuel-Miranda Tony-award winning musical, In the Heights, are now indefinitely delayed.

Meanwhile, other films including No Time to Die, Fast & Furious 9, Mulan and Black Widow have all also had their cinematic release dates pushed back, while the likes of Vin Diesel’s Bloodshot and DC’s Birds of Prey are being released on digital early in response to the pandemic.

The ongoing concern now for the new date for Wonder Woman 1984 is that the date may not even be enough of a pushback. As it stands, the pandemic is still spreading and affecting all countries and who knows what the global situation will be in a month, in two months and even by August.

As in all cases involving caution and uncertainty, only time will tell if the new release date would serve well for the movie-going public and also for the fans who have waited for this much-anticipated sequel, not to mention the safety of everyone who only wants normalcy to return to their lives in the soonest possible time.

Wonder Woman will now be released in cinemas on August 14, 2020.