Marvel’s Newest Movie Expected to Trail ‘Black Widow’ By $50 Million

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scarlett johansson black widow hero pose

Credit: Marvel Studios

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next addition, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will make its exclusive theatrical debut on September 3, 2021.

Shang-Chi Poster crop
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Shang-Chi’s New Ten Rings of Power Hint at Fin Fang Foom’s MCU Debut

The movie — which is set for a 45-day theatrical runwill not be simultaneously available on the Disney+ Premier Access tier like Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow was on July 9, 2021.

Black Widowdespite its historic “stunning crash” at the box office during its second weekend in theaters — had an $80 million opening weekend, making it the year’s top performer so far.

yelena belova (left) and natasha romanoff (right) in black widow
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Florence Pugh Not Following Scarlett Johansson, Confirms Immediate MCU Return

Simu Liu-led Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, however, is not expected to have nearly as big of a debut as the Avenger origin story film, which is set between the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity Wars (2018).

razor fist vs shang0chi
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: ‘Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness’: Release Date, Cast, and EVERYTHING You Need to Know

In fact, a new report from BoxOffice Pro, indicates that Shang-Chi is set to bring in between $35 million and $55 million domestically during its Labor Day weekend premiere. Even if it hits the top end of this projection, the newest MCU film would still trail Black Widow’s opening by slightly over $30 million.

Shang-Chi Trailer
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Marvel Pres. Kevin Feige Reportedly Livid, “Embarrassed” About ‘Black Widow’

It would, though, make it the third-best pandemic opening behind Black Widow‘s $80 million and F9‘s $70 million.

Johansson is currently suing The Walt Disney Company for $50 million due to an alleged breach of contract regarding Black Widow‘s simultaneous theatrical and streaming release.

scarlett johansson as black widow
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Director Says the WORST MCU Film Should Have Killed Off Loki

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek recently defended the release strategy, noting that Disney had had to drive a “stake in the ground” in regard to various releases, including both Marvel Studios ‘ Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

More on Black Widow

scarlett johansson as natasha romanoff (left) and florence pugh as yelena belova (right) black widow on bik
Credit: Marvel Studios

The official description of the movie reads:

In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down [Taskmaster and Dreykov (Ray Winstone)], Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow, Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, David Harbour portrays Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz is Melina. “Black Widow” — the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.

More on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi screencap
Credit: Marvel Studios

The official description of the movie reads:

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.

How do you think Shang-Chi will do at the box office?

You can stream Black Widow and the three series in Marvel’s Phase 4 so far — Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany’s WandaVision, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki — on Disney+ anytime.

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