‘Spider-Man’ Spin-Off Morbius’ With Jared Leto Delays Release Date Until October 2021

Well, it’s all happening and not particularly surprising given some of the news from this afternoon: most studios are expecting to delay all their spring and summer films due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the way it’s crippled theatergoing in America. The latest casualty, with surely many more to come, is the “Spider-Man” spin-off “Morbius” starring Jared Leto. Sony Pictures has postponed the theatrical release of “Morbius,” a comic book thriller once scheduled to debut on March 19, back a few months to October 8.

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Release date pushes often create a chain-reaction of more delays, especially during the COVID era. Still, right now, “Morbius” would only face off against MGM‘s “The Addams Family 2” on October 8. That said, it faces fierce competition the week before from Warner Bros.’ “Dune” should it actually come out in theaters only and not concurrently with HBO Max as “Wonder Woman 1984” recently did, and most WB films are expected to. The following week its competition would be horror-centric fare like “Halloween Kills” and after that, Paramount‘s G.I. Joe spin-off film, “Snake Eyes.”

Given the horror-centric nature of “Morbius,” recently described as a Jekyll and Hyde story by Leto—about a scientist suffering from a rare blood disease, who tries a dangerous cure that afflicts him with a form of vampirism—perhaps Sony thinks early October is their best chance, even with bookends of major competition around them (frankly studios are running out of options).

Right now, it is unclear if the release date move will affect any of Sony’s 2021 Marvel films. The studio has “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” due June 25 and the Untitled “Spider-Man: Far From Home” sequel due December 17. Uncertainty reigns, however, and this is probably the first of many spring releases that will be pushed to the fall soon. MGM’s Bond film “No Time to Die” is already rumored to be vacating its April spot soon.