Sony has postponed the theatrical release of “Morbius,” the comic book thriller starring Jared Leto, as studios continue to grapple with the pandemic’s impact on the film industry.
The movie, which has been delayed numerous times amid the COVID-19 crisis, was most recently scheduled to debut on March 19. It will now premiere in theaters on Oct. 8.
Most movies that were once scheduled for early 2021 have already been pushed back due to the pandemic. However, there are several titles still on the calendar for the first few months of the year, including Camila Cabello’s “Cinderella” (also from Sony) on Feb. 5 and Disney and 20th Century’s “The King’s Man” on March 12. Curiously, Sony did not mention plans for “Cinderella” in Monday’s announcement, though it’s unlikely the fantasy adaptation will keep its February release date — unless it’s sent to a streaming service or lands on premium video-on-demand early.
“Morbius” was directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. Based on the Marvel Comics character, the superhero film centers on a biochemist who becomes a vampire after attempting to cure himself of a rare blood disease. Leto portrays Michael Morbius alongside a cast that includes Matt Smith, Jared Harris and Tyrese Gibson.
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Morbius, the notorious Spider-Man foe, hails from Sony’s arsenal of Marvel characters. While Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” movies have ties to the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony is attempting to launch its own interconnected comic book world with Leto’s antihero and Venom, the alien symbiote portrayed by Tom Hardy. “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” a sequel to the studio’s 2018 surprise hit, is expected to be released on June 25, 2021 — though the delay of “Morbius” may change those plans.
