Disney Boss Explains Why They Don't Want Marvel's Shang-Chi Premiering on Disney+

SHANG-CHI WILL STAY IN THEATERS

Marvel

During Disney's Q3 Investor Call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings will stick to its exclusive theatrical release amid the Delta Variant surge worldwide. 

While Chapek pointed out that they didn't expect the surge, the head executive explained that they have to "put a stake in the ground" for films like Shang-Chi and Free Guy. 

"At some point, we have to put a stake in the ground, and say, Shang-Chi, that's a title we're going to put into the marketplace, or Free Guy, that's a title we're going to put into the marketplace."

Chapek continued by saying that Shang-Chi would be an "interesting experiment" for the House of Mouse, admitting that it will be yet "another data point" to inform the company's actions going forward. The head of Disney also took note of the fact that making last-minute changes is "not possible:" 

"On Shang-Chi, we think it's actually going to be an interesting experiment for us because it's got only a 45-day window for us, so the prospect of being able to take a Marvel title to the service after going theatrical for 45 days will be yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles. And again, when we planned Shang-Chi, that title was planned on being in a much more healthy theatrical environment, and at this point, unfortunately, due to distribution agreements that we have and due to the practicality of making last-minute changes, it wouldn't be possible."

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