Due to an increase in coronavirus cases and the delta variant, Paramount Pictures postponed the release of “Blockbuster Gun: Maverick” on Wednesday, pushing another of the fall’s top films into 2021.
The “Top Gun” sequel, featuring Tom Cruise, will be released during Memorial Day weekend next year, rather than on Nov. 19. In addition, the release date of “Mission: Impossible 7” will be pushed back from May 27 to September 30 next year.
The cancellation is the latest setback for Hollywood’s once-optimistic autumn film season. The industry’s intentions for a return to normalcy at multiplexes have been thrown off by the delta-driven surge. “Top Gun: Maverick” will be released after a similar delay for Paramount’s “Clifford the Big Red Dog.” “Jackass Forever” was also moved back from Oct. 22 to Feb. 4 by Paramount on Wednesday.
While other studios have tried to hedge their bets with huge movies by streaming them simultaneously on release day, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures have opted for a more traditional theatrical release. Due to an increase in instances, Sony already postponed “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” from September to October 15. Following Paramount’s statement, Sony said on Wednesday that “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” would be rescheduled from November 11 to November 19.
However, a number of high-profile big-budget movies have yet to arrive in the fall. The James Bond film “No Time to Die,” produced by MGM and United Artists, will still be released in North America on October 8.
“Maverick” was set to be released by Paramount until recently. At CinemaCon, the annual exhibitor convention, the studio teased the film’s first 13 minutes last month.
Not all of Paramount’s films have been preserved. Some of its releases, such as Chris Pratt’s “The Tomorrow War,” have been sold to streaming services. “Infinite,” a critically panned sci-fi thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, premiered on Paramount+. In normal circumstances, films like “Top Gun: Maverick” would aim for a worldwide box office of $1 billion or more.
With over $700 million in ticket sales, Universal’s “F9” has grossed more than any other film during the epidemic. However, the majority of its revenue came before the delta variant boom. “A Quiet Place Part II,” from Paramount, was one of the first tentpoles to hit theaters earlier this year, grossing nearly $300 million worldwide.