By moving Marvel Studios’ “The Marvels” from July to November – the same month as its animated musical “Wish” – Disney is placing a big bet on its cinematic heroines during the Thanksgiving season and hoping they won’t cannibalize each other’s audience.
It’s a move that could bolster two valuable franchises with theatrical buzz – or backfire at a time when Disney can’t afford a lot of missteps.
The heavy push onto multiplex screens as audiences return to cinemas is a bet on the power of theatrical releases to boost downstream revenue. CEO Bob Iger recently told Wall Street analysts that releasing movies in theaters first gives it “marketing clout” as well as the ability to amortize costs.