When will empty cinemas be full again? Photo: Julien Andrieux/Unsplash)

Hit pause: waiting for Top Gun and Bond

When the latest James Bond premiere was put on the back-burner as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the shock was felt through the entire entertainment industry. Little did they know No Time to Die would be the first in a long line of blockbusters to have their releases delayed or postponed indefinitely, forcing a cosmic reshuffle of the 2020/2021 release schedule.

Tentpole movies such as Marvel’s Black Widow are slated for release later this year, while others like Greyhound (starring Tom Hanks) have opted for a streaming service release.

Not only has coronavirus halted the release of films, film production has come to a standstill, leaving a huge question mark over when some much anticipated flicks will be completed, including Uncharted and the untitled Elvis Presley biopic.

In late April, Australia’s National Association of Cinema Operators set a goal of reopening cinemas in time for the premiere of director Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster, Tenet, which is due for worldwide release in July.

Here’s how the new release dates stack up:

Tenet – JULY 31, 2020

Mulan – JULY 24, 2020

A Quiet Place: Part II – SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

Candyman – SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Wonder Woman 1984 – OCTOBER 2, 2020

Black Widow – NOVEMBER 6, 2020

No Time to Die – NOVEMBER 25, 2020

West Side Story – DECEMBER 18, 2020

Top Gun: Maverick – DECEMBER 23, 2020

The Eternals – FEBRUARY 12, 2021

F9 – APRIL 2, 2021