Three Pixar “Streamers” To See Theater Releases

 by Beth Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 5, 2024

 

When COVID hit, and people hunkered down at home instead of going to their local theaters, Disney pivoted and decided to release several about-to-debut Pixar films on the fledgling Disney+ instead of taking the movies to theaters.

Whether that ended up being the right decision is a debate for numerous pundits, analysts and talking heads, but for now, Disney is turning an eye toward recouping some of those films’ revenues (losses?) by releasing the pictures to the big screen for the first time.  Plus, families who haven’t seen the animated features in theaters will get their chance to enjoy the flicks as they were meant to be seen.

Turning Red, Luca, and Soul will arrive in theaters in 2024, one per month, for the first three months of the year. Soul will be released on January 12, 2024; Turning Red on February 9, 2024; and Luca on March 22, 2024.

  

Many questions loom. 

 

Will the number of families who don’t have Disney+ and still want to see the movies in the theater make enough of a difference to warrant releasing the films to the big screen at this late of a date?  Is Disney hoping that an audience that has already streamed and enjoyed the three films will turn out to see them on the big screen?  Will either of those cohorts bring in any significant additional revenue? Plus, in an even more quirky twist, Turning Red, Luca, and Soul are all still streaming on Disney+. You could watch it twice in the same day - once in the theater, and once at home!

Families have gotten used to waiting for films to show up on streaming, thus avoiding what can easily approach a hundred-dollar outing for a family of four at the theater.  Whether cash-strapped families will spring for theater tickets after they’ve already seen the films remains to be seen.

 
It’s quite the paradox – Disney released the films to Disney+ the first time around in order to avoid box office losses specific to COVID and simultaneously build their streaming service, but now the company is releasing the films in the theaters to recoup some lost revenue. Only time will tell if this unusual move bolsters Disney’s box office to any significant degree.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

“Lightyear” Ranks as a Big Flop, Raising Questions about Pixar

 by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 5, 2022

 

Disney-Pixar’s Lightyear ranks as a rather staggering flop. There’s just no way around that for Disney. And with it comes questions about Pixar.

 

To drive home the point, consider that Minions: The Rise of Gru, from Universal, opened on July 1, and through July 4, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, it raked in $125.2 million domestically and $219 million globally. In contrast, Lightyear opened domestically on June 17, and thus far it has earned $106.7 million domestically and $188.9 million globally. 

 

That is, the opening July 4^th weekend for Minions generated more ticket sales than Lightyear has over three weekends. Yikes.

Putting aside Minions, the reported production budget for Lightyear was $200 million. That excludes marketing costs, which generally run anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent of the production budget. Let’s take a middle point, and therefore, assume a total costs of $350 million for Lightyear. At just less than $190 million in revenue after its third weekend, there’s just no way that Lightyear will come close to breaking even, never mind making a profit in theaters. Yikes, again.

 

This was Pixar’s first big move back into theaters since Onward was cut short in theaters when the pandemic hit in March 2020. Since then, Soul, Luca and Turning Red went to Disney+. Consider that Lightyear’s production budget at $200 million isn’t all that different from reports that Soul cost $150 million, Luca $200 million, and Turning Red $175 million – again, absent marketing costs. Those are big numbers for few dollars coming in at the box office, while one is left trying to figure out their contributions to Disney+ subscriptions. They no doubt contributed positively to subscriber growth, but to what degree? Also, can these types of budgets be sustained in the future without substantial profits at the box office?

 

Of course, Pixar has a stellar track record over the long haul, and it might just snapback with more hits. It’s hard to bet against them. 

 

But doubts lurk. After all, the creators at Pixar today are not the same as those who gave us Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc. and other Pixar classics. Indeed, one could argue that there has been a drop off in the quality of Pixar films over its past 11 movies – starting with The Good Dinosaur in 2015 which had the worst Pixar box office pre-pandemic – again especially when compared to the incredible run with its first 15 movies. 

 

So, Pixar seems to be another question for Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who is a CEO in no shortage of questions and challenges.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Two great ways to order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks here and the Kindle edition here. 

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks here, and paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions here.  

 

Get all of Ray Keating Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries in paperback and for the Kindle at Amazon.com and signed books at www.RayKeatingOnline.com. 

 

Get more out of the rest of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. It’s on sale and shipping is always free!

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Pixar: Three Times a Charm or Three Strikes You’re Out or … COVID?

 by Ray Keating

Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 24, 2022

 

Disney recently announced that Pixar’s Turning Red will skip a theatrical release, and instead, head straight to a Disney+. This marks the third Pixar film in a row to land on Disney+, after Soul and Luca. What does this mean for Pixar? Three times a charm? Three strikes you’re out? Or just more COVID fallout?

Interestingly, the articles citing anonymous sources from inside Pixar didn’t capture anger and hostility against Disney or CEO Bob Chapek. Instead, the quotes came across as a combination of resignation and disappointment. With what’s going on with COVID, including the latest Omicron variant surge, those quoted admitted that they understood these decisions, though not necessarily liking them. 

 

As one Pixar person was quoted by the Hollywood Reporter: “Everyone is really bummed, but most of us get it. Families just aren’t going to the movies.”

 

That lines up with what Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, said: “Given the delayed box office recovery, particularly for family films, flexibility remains at the core of our distribution decisions as we prioritize delivering the unparalleled content of The Walt Disney Company to audiences around the world.”

 

Consider that Disney animation’s Encanto, which was released in theaters on November 24, made $224 million at the box office on a production budget estimated at between $120 million and $150 million. Factor in marketing, and the film might have broken even … maybe.

 

Box office revenues obviously matter to Disney, but so does streaming subscriptions. And imagine where would Disney, and its Pixar subsidiary, be without streaming in this environment.

 

The big Pixar test now stands as Lightyear, which is scheduled to hit theaters on June 17, 2022. And yes, COVID will largely tell the story.

 

Turning Red will arrive on Disney+ on March 11. Like Soul and Luca, Turning Red will be available to Disney+ subscribers at no additional cost.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13^th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

Disney’s Big Oscar Night: “Soul” and “Nomadland” Honored at 2021 Academy Awards

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 26, 2021

 

The 93rd Academy Awards have come and gone, and Disney’s Soul and Nomadland were the company’s big winners this year under its Pixar and Searchlight brands.  

Held at Union Station Los Angeles and the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center, with appearances by winners videoed in from points around the globe, the Oscar ceremonies took place last night, April 25, 2021, honoring movies released in 2020. 

 

Aired on the Disney-owned ABC network, the company also snuck in a lavishly done new trailer for the upcoming Disney and Steven Spielberg film remake of West Side Story. 

Given the repercussions of this year’s pandemic, it is no surprise that Disney and Netflix, the two streaming powerhouses, were the big winners this year.

 

The Oscars for Disney under its Pixar partnership both belonged to Soul. Soul was released on Disney+.

 

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM WINNER:

SOUL

Pete Docter and Dana Murray

 

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE) WINNER:

SOUL

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

 

And if you include the Searchlight film Nomadland among the Disney family of properties (Disney acquired Searchlight in 2019), you can chalk up a few more wins in the Disney column.

Chloé Zhao, who took home her statue for Nomadland,  became the second woman to win the category, as well as the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent to win for Best Director. Nomadland was released on Disney’s Hulu platform, as well as in theaters.

 

BEST PICTURE WINNER:

NOMADLAND

Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers

 

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE WINNER:

Frances McDormand

NOMADLAND

 

DIRECTING WINNER:

NOMADLAND

Chloé Zhao

 

Best picture and best animated feature film – it can’t get much better than that for Disney and its movie studios.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Specialty Treats at Amorette’s in Disney Springs

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 19, 2021

 

There’s an old saying that calories inside the Walt Disney gates magically don’t count… And besides, you’re on vacation, so you aren’t eating as rigidly as you would at home anyway. That being said, among my guilty indulgences at Disney are Mickey Bars, and just about anything at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs.

 

The glass bakery cases at Amorette’s are filled with in-house created deliciousness, from Crème Brûlée to petit cakes, to Éclairs and Crêpes. You can even watch the pastry artists at work, which is always interesting. But among the most fun creations are their themed desserts. Over the course of several days, we tried two of the specially designed, limited time confections.

Right now, Disney is basking in the sweet success of its WandaVision Disney+ series, and Amorette’s has picked up the challenge. And it was quite the challenge for us to get our hands on one of the little nuggets. Amorette’s has invented a miniature television cake, complete with an edible scene from the past week’s WandaVision show.  It took three trips to Amorette’s to finally be able to tune-in to the goody – they were sold out each time we went.  Even at 2:00 in the afternoon, they were down to just two TV sets left for the day when we finally captured our prize!

 

The television is just over four inches long, coated in chocolate ganache, with an edible paper scene on the front. There have been different scenes from each of the WandaVision decades released each week as the new episode airs on Disney+, and ours was from the ‘90s “Halloween” episode. Each cake lasts only one week before the next episode, and hence the next week’s TV, is released with the new Friday WandaVision episode. Early versions of the TVs were in black and white reflecting the 50s era, while more modern eras have been “colorized.”

 

Inside, the petit cake is a combination of light and dark cakes, and white and dark chocolate mousse.  The cakes were light and airy, and the rest of the TV was super sweet. We couldn’t agree on the flavor of the darker cake, however. It was reddish in tint, but didn’t taste like the typical red velvet cake. It didn’t quite come off as chocolate, either. Maybe because the chocolate ganache was so sweet, the cake came across more delicately.  $20.00 is a bit steep for a dessert, but the cake was large enough that we split it three ways, so it seemed a much more reasonable indulgence for a late afternoon pick-me-up, and was so sweet you probably couldn’t have eaten it by yourself anyway.

Next on the dessert menu was the Soul petit cake, themed to the recent Disney/Pixar movie and coinciding with the Celebrate Soulfully events currently going on in Disney Springs, including some top-notch live music at night. The Soul cake was beautifully decorated with music notes and the face of jazz musician Joe Gardner, the protagonist at the center of the animated film.  The chocolate chiffon cake was filled with chocolate and raspberry mousse, with a bold layer of raspberry fruit, and little white chocolate crispy pearls. It was coated in a sweet blue ganache with white trim.  The cake again was $20.00, and was more than adequate to split three ways.

 

We didn’t try it, but there was also a limited time Princess Tiana petit cake with a similar flavor make-up as the Soul cake. 

 

Amorette’s is always coming up with new holiday and themed creations. If you are interested in the Soul cake or the WandaVision TV, you’d better hurry, because their days are limited.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Disney’s "The Mandalorian" Among the Nominees For Golden Globes

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 3, 2021

 

The awards’ season is nearly upon us, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning announced its nominees for the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Disney productions captured a number of nods, with five nominations for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and one for Disney+.

 

The Mandalorian was nominated for “Best Television Series - Drama,” along with The Crown; Lovecraft Country; Ozark; and Ratched.

 

Hamilton was responsible for two nominations, the first for “Best Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy,” up against Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; Music; Palm Springs; and The Prom.   

 

Lin-Manuel Miranda was also nominated for Hamilton in the category of “Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture-Musical/Comedy,” along with Sacha Baron Cohen, James Corden, Dev Patel, and Andy Samberg.

 

Two Disney/Pixar animations will be pitted against one another in the category “Best Motion Picture – Animated.” Soul and Onward will compete against The Croods: A New Age; Over the Moon; and Wolfwalkers.  

 

Soul also brought a “Best Original Score -Motion Picture” nomination to Jon Batiste, Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, with Ross and Reznor squaring off against themselves for their work in Mank, with additional nominations for Alexandre Desplat for The Midnight Sky; Ludwig Goransson for Tenet; and James Newton Howard for News of the World.

 

The Golden Globes recognize achievements in 25 categories; 14 in motion pictures and 11 in television. The Golden Globes is traditionally the first of the season’s awards shows; this year, because of COVID, the January gala has been moved to February. It will take place February 28, 2021, but COVID complications have added another twist to this year’s ceremonies. This year, the award show will be bi-coastal, with Tina Fey returning to host from the Rainbow Room on the east coast in New York, and Amy Poehler also returning to host from the west coast at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the awards normally take place. Nominees will likely be appearing from locations around the globe as well, given the current travel situation. The show will air on NBC.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” Comes to EPCOT

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 2, 2021

 

Following the success of the Christmas Day launch of the Disney/Pixar animated movie Soul, the Disney Imagineers have created a February exhibit celebrating the rich history of jazz music.  Hosted at The American Adventure pavilion at Disney’s EPCOT, “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure,” showcases this “distinctly American musical art form, originated by African Americans and fusing the influences of many different cultures.”

“The Soul of Jazz” is not a typical marketing display of memorabilia from the movie, but rather, was created with the assistance of jazz experts and museums across the country as a way of inspiring guests to “explore the rich history and influence of this ever-evolving genre of music.”

At the exhibit, visitors accompany Joe Gardner, the jazz musician and teacher from the movie Soul, on a musical tour of several of the cities that were influential in the history and development of jazz, including New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Juan and New York. Artifacts from legendary jazz musicians are on display, showcasing such items as Gene Krupa’s drumsticks, Bix Beiderbecke’s cornet and one of Louis Armstrong’s own trumpets.  Sheet music from drummer Louis Bellson is there, but the actual handwriting on the sheets may be that of the legendary Duke Ellington. Sheet music from the first jazz composer, Jelly Roll Morton, is highlighted as well (Ever been to Jelly Rolls club over at Disney’s BoardWalk for the dueling pianos?)

You can put your knowledge of jazz to the test through the Play Disney Parks mobile app, which will allow you to interact with the exhibit along your journey.

Disney Parks Blog shared a video promoting the exhibit from Jon Batiste, the American pianist and band leader who composed the jazz music for Soul, and also stepped in to create the musical performances for the character of Joe Gardner in the movie.

If you have not yet seen Soul, it is currently streaming on Disney+.  Check it out before heading to the exhibit at EPCOT, and see the DisneyBizJournal commentary on Soul here.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

Soul: Finding Joy in the Little Things

 by David Keating

Guest Column/Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 31, 2020

 

(Editor’s Note: This article was first published at KeatingFiles.com.)

 

A few days ago, I finished watching the Pixar movie Soul and really enjoyed it. The reaction among critics and audiences alike seemed to be pretty positive. The movie itself focuses on a man that has a near-death experience and, in an attempt to escape death, must mentor another “soul” as it makes its journey to earth. 

 

In the film, a soul can only make its way to Earth upon finding its “spark.” The main character in the film misconstrues “spark” for “purpose.” Through the adventures that he and his pupil have, he discovers that a “spark” is really about finding joy in whatever it is that you are doing. The message of the film is that one doesn’t need to become famous or important in order to find joy in life, but instead joy can be found in an appreciation for all of life’s little moments. Most importantly, joy stems from the relationships that we have with our cherished loved ones, friends, and our family.

 

I came away thinking that Pixar hit the mark in terms of what they had set out to convey. Imagine my surprise then when, among various clergy friends, there seemed to be quite a bit of controversy surrounding the film. Most of the complaints among my Christian brothers and sisters stemmed from the fact that the movie wasn’t theologically accurate in terms of its view of the soul. 

 

This seemed, to me at least, to be a remarkably thin criticism. I don’t think that Pixar was setting out to craft a theology or philosophy for themselves. Instead, through a somewhat abstract lens, they seemed to be aiming to tell a tale that contained a moral that many Christians, and in particular pastors, would find helpful and encouraging. 

 

What do I mean? At the climax of the film, our main character assumes that by playing in a jazz quartet of some renown, he will finally find purpose for himself. To his surprise, he finds playing with the group to be enjoyable, but not as meaningful as he had hoped. 

 

What ends up providing meaning then? This character also doubles as a band teacher and his sense of purpose and meaning seems to stem more from teaching his students and mentoring the lost soul that he encounters, instead of becoming a famous and important musician. 

 

Why do I think this is applicable and perhaps encouraging to pastors? Most pastors are not going to be great theologians, professors, or authors. But, many that I meet also want to do something religiously significant having drawn inspiration from Dietrich Bonhoeffer or Martin Luther. The reality is, there are very few Luthers, Bonhoeffers, or Melanchthons out there in the world. But this doesn’t mean that the work each pastor does is meaningless! Instead, we understand that our vocation is important because it’s what we have been called to and because a pastor doing something as simple as teaching just one confirmation student makes all the difference in the world. Is it a small thing? Yes, it often is. The encouraging thing is that these small acts of kindness and of teaching can have all the meaning in the world for the person who is learning.

 

So, take a deep breath. Pixar’s Soul may not be a perfect theological treatise. Much of our entertainment isn’t. When last I checked, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel were not meant to inform our theological worldview. But these movies can still provide us with entertainment and occasional insight. The message of Soul certainly proved encouraging to me given that my work won’t change the world or the country. It might not even impact my community all that much. However, it can still be a joy because it is in small moments like preaching to a few people or teaching a Sunday school class that a “spark” can be found. 

 

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The Reverend David Keating is pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

“Soul” Will Arrive on Disney+ on Christmas Day

 by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 8, 2020

 

The Walt Disney Company announced today that the Pixar movie Soul will be released directly on Disney+, rather than in theaters. And it might make the holiday season a bit more fun for families, as it will be released on Disney+ on Christmas Day.

Unlike Mulan, there will be no additional cost to view the film. If you subscribe to Disney+, then you’ll be able to tune in Soul. In international markets where Disney+ is not available, the film will be released at some point in theaters.

 

According to Disney’s previous release schedule, Soul was supposed to head into theaters on November 20, 2020. But with the pandemic still wreaking havoc with movie theaters, it’s not surprising that Soul will debut on Disney+ instead.

 

Disney CEO Bob Chapek said, “We are thrilled to share Pixar’s spectacular and moving ‘Soul’ with audiences direct to Disney+ in December. A new original Pixar film is always a special occasion, and this truly heartwarming and humorous story about human connection and finding one’s place in the world will be a treat for families to enjoy together this holiday season.”

 

Disney describes Soul this way:

 

What is it that makes you...YOU? Pixar Animation Studios’ “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions. “Soul” is Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Inside Out,” “Up”), co-directed by Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) and produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. (Pixar short “Lou”).

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.

 

Disney News on “The Mandalorian,” “Black Widow” and “Soul”

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 15, 2020

There’s buzz about big stuff from Disney.

First, the trailer for Season 2 of The Mandalorian hit today, and yes, it looks freakin’ awesome. The Mandalorian on Disney+ pulled Star Wars out of some movie muck, and expectations are rising high for the new season starting to stream on October 30. “This is the way,” indeed!

Second, Variety serves up the Hollywood buzz about a couple of big movies coming from Disney. It reports that Disney is likely to delay the release of Black Widow, which is scheduled for November 6, and has been moved multiple times since it was originally supposed to be released this past May. What the Black Widow news means, if confirmed, for other Marvel releases, namely, as noted by Variety, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Thor: Love and Thunder, no one knows.

Third, it also was reported that Pixar’s Soul not only looks like it will be rescheduled from its current November 20 slot, but that it could wind up going straight to Disney+. If that gets confirmed by Disney, there will be lots of speculation as to whether it might be some Disney+/theaters hybrid release, a Disney+ premium option like Mulan, or simply added to Disney+ in straightforward fashion.

The only sure thing right now is that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to roil Hollywood, along with most other businesses across the nation.

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Also, get the paperback or Kindle edition of Ray Keating’s new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.