Top Gun 2: Maverick
July 2; rescheduled from December
Paramount announced this release date for the Top Gun sequel, which will once again star Tom Cruise. The story will follow fighter pilots dealing with drone tech that is making their flying skills obsolete. Paramount bumped the film back a year from the planned July 2019 opening so that filmmakers could work out the flight sequences with new tech and planes, then rescheduled from June 2020 to December, and then again to July 2 in the coronavirus shuffle.
Black Widow
July 9
This will be the first Phase Four MCU film to hit the screen, and its original rescheduling from May 2020 to November in the coronavirus shuffle led to moves for all the other Phase Four films. Now it's been delayed again, to May 2021, around a year after the originally scheduled date, again triggering a string of other moves. In addition to Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, the film will star David Harbour as Alexei aka The Red Guardian, Florence Pugh as Yelena, O-T Fagbenle as Mason, and Rachel Weisz as Melina.
Space Jam 2
July 16
Warner Bros. booked this date for the sequel to the Michael Jordan-Bugs Bunny live-action / animation hybrid. The film will star LeBron James, and will be produced by Black Panther filmmaker Ryan Coogler.
Dungeons & Dragons
July 23
The movie based on Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast's roleplaying game property has now moved from Warner Bros., which fought a court battle to preserve its rights to the IP, to Paramount, which now has an overall deal with Hasbro (see "'Dungeons & Dragons' Film Moves to Paramount, Gets Date").
The Tomorrow War
July 23
A near future science fiction film starring Chris Pratt and directed by Chris McKay, this film was moved to this date from December 2020 in the coronavirus shuffle.
Jungle Cruise
July 30, rescheduled from July 24, 2020
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star in this adaptation of the Disney theme park ride, delayed about a year from July 2020 in the hopes that Disney parks would be open and running by Summer 2021. The ride-based movie concept worked for Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Suicide Squad
August 6
Warner Bros. announced the date for this sequel in January 2019. It will be scripted and directed by James Gunn.
Hotel Transylvania 4
August 6
Sony moved the fourth entry in the CG-animated franchise up to this date from December in the coronavirus shuffle. The first three films have earned more than $1.3 billion worldwide at the box office.
The King's Man
August 20
Delayed around a year with multiple date changes, this prequel feature is set to explore the origins of the Kingsman organization, and will span the years 1900 through WWII.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
September 3
Rescheduled to July when Black Widow moved to 2021, this Marvel Studios film will star Simu Liu in the title role, Tony Leung as Mandarin, and Awkwafina in an undisclosed role. Destin Daniel Cretton will direct.
Click here for Best in Shows, Q4 2021.
