Since the early phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, avid Avengers fans have been clamoring for Black Widow to take center stage in her own film. In 2018, Disney and Marvel Studios met those demands by announcing Black Widow, a solo venture that would be released in 2020. However, those who have been waiting for Natasha Romanoff's story since her first appearances in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers will have to wait a little longer.
A recent report from Variety revealed that the two studios would be postponing the film's release date due to the current coronavirus outbreak. This delay is the latest in a series of cancellations and delays by video game developers like The Pokemon Company and by movie studios with upcoming premieres.
According to the report, neither Disney nor Marvel has given a new release date. However, it stated that this delay was likely due to the closure of movie theaters across the world. Variety listed Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington among the states that have already been ordered to close due to the CDC's warning that large gatherings could spread COVID-19 even further. When also considering international theater closures, and the fact that most movie theater chains are closed until further notice, Disney and Marvel were forced to delay their fourth film in a row.
Although fans might be disappointed by the wait for Phase 4's first film and Black Widow's origin story, this delay is ultimately necessary for the fans' health and safety. Outside of the coronavirus concerns, Black Widow's delay should have a minimal impact on the MCU's momentum, since there is currently no ongoing storyline.
With the pandemic still ongoing, it's difficult to say whether fans will see Black Widow face off against Taskmaster in Black Widow or Marvel's Avengers first. The game has already been delayed to later in 2020. But while the film has already been completed, Avengers was still wrapping up development. Until word either surfaces about how developer Square Enix has been impacted by the coronavirus or about when movie theaters will reopen, only time will tell when Natasha Romanoff will return.
Source: Variety