Sony delays release of 'Beyond the Spider-Verse' and other films due to union strikes
Looks like fans of Sony's Spider-Verse franchise would have to wait longer to see Miles Morales swinging back to the big screen, as the entertainment company has announced that it's moving the film's premiere and other major releases to a later date.
The third installment in the franchise, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, was set to hit theaters worldwide on March 29, 2024. However, a source from Sony told Variety that it is pushing back the premiere to a new date because its production—and that of many other films—has been affected by the ongoing strikes of the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
Beyond the Spider-Verse is postponing its March 2024 opening because its voice actors cannot complete the animated film's voice recording, according to the source. Sony has yet to announce the new release date.
Another film announced to have a delayed screening is Gran Turismo. The biographical sports film was supposed to race into theaters on Aug. 11 of this year until it was moved two weeks later to Aug. 25.
Next on the list is the untitled sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Fans of the film led by Paul Rudd should expect to see the actor reprise his role in the film on March 29, 2024, instead of Dec. 20 this year.
Meanwhile, Kraven the Hunter is set to hit theaters on Aug. 30, 2024, from Oct. 6, 2023, while Karate Kid has its release kicked to Dec. 13, 2024, from June 7 of that year. They Listen, which initially had an Aug. 30, 2024, will likewise premiere on a later date that has yet to be announced.
It's not all delays for Sony, though. The entertainment powerhouse also revealed that another much-anticipated film in the Spider-Man universe, Madame Web, will be getting a Valentine's Day release that is two days ahead of its original Feb. 16, 2024 showing.
The WGA—which represents 11,000 film, television, news, radio, and online writers—first went on strike on May 2 of this year to demand higher pay and fairer deals from TV and stream companies, in addition to raising concerns of artificial intelligence overtaking their jobs.
The ongoing strike coincides with that of SAG-AFTRA, which began on July 14. Similar to WGA, SAG-AFTRA has been expressing concerns about AI on top of its ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.