Shang-Chi & Free Guy Keeping Theatrical Releases & Will Hit Streaming After 45 Days

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Upcoming Disney releases Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Free Guy will have exclusive theatrical runs, and then arrive on streaming 45 days later. Both Shang-Chi and Free Guy are among the many movies that have struggled to find a foothold amid the coronavirus pandemic, each suffering multiple release date delays since last year. Shang-Chi will be the second movie in the MCU's Phase 4 and introduces its first lead Asian hero on the big screen. Free Guy, meanwhile, is an original sci-fi adventure starring Ryan Reynolds as an NPC in a video game.

With the pandemic still leaving the safety of movie theaters up in the air, studios have been forced to adopt some creative solutions when it comes to their biggest releases. In most cases, this involves some kind of streaming release. Disney has continued to utilize its Premier Access program on Disney+ by giving movies like Raya and the Last Dragon and Black Widow day and date releases in theaters and on streaming. It has also sent the likes of Soul and Luca to Disney+ without the Premier Access banner. As we look further in the year, though, the question then becomes: How long will streaming be necessary?

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During Thursday's second quarter earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed both Shang-Chi and Free Guy will have exclusive theatrical releases later this year. Those will last for 45 days, and then they can become available on streaming. Neither film was given a concrete streaming date. Free Guy will debut in theaters on August 13, while Shang-Chi premieres on September 3.

Earlier on Thursday, Disney announced Jungle Cruise will be available via Disney+'s Premier Access in July. That Free Guy will avoid that fate while releasing only a few weeks later indicates Disney is feeling optimistic about the state of moviegoing later in the year. As more people get vaccinated and certain areas lift their restrictions, theaters have begun to make a gradual comeback. However, most are still operating at a lower capacity, and Disney is hardly the only studio to fall back on streaming to combat potential losses.

Paramount is adopting a similar strategy, with big movies like A Quiet Place Part II and Mission: Impossible 7 getting 45-day exclusive theatrical runs. There was a time when movies were expected to play in theaters for months before they could become available at home, but the pandemic has led to a drastic shortening of that window. As strange as it all seems, it's at least comforting to know Shang-Chi and Free Guy will get the theatrical releases they deserve. Both promise to be big screen spectacles, and they should be treated as such. Whether audiences will be ready for them remains to be seen, but Disney appears to feel optimistic about their chances.