Will 'Shang-Chi' Premiere Simultaneously On Disney+ and In Theaters?

After years of waiting, Marvel fans are finally going to be given the chance to see their favorite Asian superhero on the big screen. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to make its theatrical premiere on September 3. However, whether or not it will receive a solely theatrical release is still up in the air as Disney and Marvel seem to be at odds over the decision.

Since the pandemic forced movie theaters across the globe to shut down, Disney had been releasing its big-name titles on Disney+. Both Mulan (2020) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) premiered solely on Disney+, but Cruella and Black Widow received simultaneous releases on Disney+ and in theaters. It is those simultaneous releases that are the crux of the issue for Marvel.

Disney is currently in the midst of a heated lawsuit with Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson over the simultaneous release of her new films, in which she is not only a star but also a producer. Johansson is claiming that Disney breached her contract, which promised her a solely theatrical release, but Disney is claiming that Johansson is not taking the pandemic into consideration.

Marvel President Kevin Feige is reportedly livid with Disney over the lawsuit, as he was against releasing Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+ on the same day, to begin with. It is because of his dislike of a simultaneous release, the lawsuit, and the fallout from it, that Feige is reportedly putting his foot down when it comes to how Disney will release Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings. 

Disney is rumored to be considering another simultaneous release for Shang-Chi, but Feige is unwilling to compromise on the theatrical release that was originally planned. If Disney does decide to go forward with a simultaneous Disney+ and theatrical release, Feige may force them to renegotiate the contracts of all the major Shang-Chi actors, which could backfire when it comes to their Johansson lawsuit, since the starlet was not given the same courtesy.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently scheduled to come out in theaters on September 3, 2021. Inside the Magic will keep readers updated if any changes are made to the release of the film.

Do you support wanting a simultaneous Shang-Chi release, or do you agree with Marvel and think the film should only be released in theaters? Let us know in the comments.