With the end of the 118-day actors' strike and the 148-day WGA strike back in September, Hollywood can breathe a sigh of relief as global feature productions are set to resume. Despite initial warnings from studios about delays until January due to the holidays, pre-production activities have been underway for movies that had to pause in July.
Some of the films gearing up for a quick restart include Marvel Studios/Disney's "Deadpool 3", Paramount's "Gladiator 2", Warner Bros' "Beetlejuice 2", Clint Eastwood's "Juror No. 2", and Sony's "Venom 3". Additionally, Wayfarer Studios' adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, "It Ends With Us," featuring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, is a priority for resuming shooting after being halted in June.
The end of the strikes is a relief for exhibitors and studios, who were concerned about the impact on the 2024 theatrical release schedule. Disney's Bob Iger expressed concern about the potential peril to next summer's theatrical slate if the strike continued. Filmmakers are eager to secure release dates for their projects, and the industry is focused on preserving a summer of films.
Despite speculations about release date changes, studios are confident in meeting their planned schedules. "Deadpool 3" might miss its first weekend in May 2024, but other films like "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Beetlejuice 2" are expected to stick to their release dates.
Looking ahead, several movies are set to resume shooting in early 2024, including Disney's "Tron 3", Warner Bros' "Minecraft", New Line's "Mortal Kombat 2", and Lionsgate's Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen movie "Good Fortune."
James Gunn's second DC feature, "Superman: Legacy," is slated for a March shoot with a June 11, 2025 release. Meanwhile, Andy Muschietti's "The Brave and the Bold Batman" film is still in the early stages, with the director currently focusing on the It prequel Max series "Welcome to Derry."
Sony's animated threequel "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" is also set to resume production after being pushed off the calendar. The 2024 calendar needs a steady supply of big theatrical releases to prevent a slowdown and help theaters fight off bankruptcy.
While the current projects in production are in a good position, there is anticipation for a surge in talent deals and project negotiations now that the strike is over. The industry is gearing up for a busy period of dealmaking and talent meetings as Hollywood gets back on track after the challenging strike period.
