Ghostbusters and Peter Rabbit sequels among latest films delayed

Several major film releases have been postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Spider-Man spin-off Morbius, the latest instalment in the Ghostbusters franchise and Peter Rabbit 2 will launch in the US next year rather than in the summer, Sony announced on Tuesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the entertainment industry.

Big films already delayed due to coronavirus include the new James Bond outing No Time To Die, which had been due to launch in the UK this week, and Disney blockbusters Mulan and Black Widow.

Sony confirmed it is postponing US releases for seven films in total, but did not give details on new launch dates for the UK or other countries.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife, starring Paul Rudd and Bokeem Woodbine – with appearances from the originals Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd – will now arrive in US cinemas on 5 March 2021, having originally been scheduled for July this year.

Morbius, starring Jared Leto as the titular vampire, has been moved from July to 19 March next year. Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood has been moved from January 2021 to October next year, while Greyhound, a Second World War film starring Tom Hanks, has been moved from June to an unspecified date.

The delay for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is the second announced for the film, after originally being moved from March to August earlier this year. It is now set to be released on 15 January 2021.

Video game adaption Uncharted will miss its March 2021 date and instead arrive in October 2021. Plus, an untitled film from Sony and Marvel has been moved from 8 October 2021 to an unspecified date.

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Hollywood has been hit hard by the global pandemic, with some experts claiming the final cost to the entertainment industry could reach tens of billions of dollars.

Other major releases to be delayed include A Quiet Place II and Fast & Furious 9.

Hanks is one of the highest profile stars known to have tested positive for COVID-19, after falling ill while filming in Australia.

Idris Elba also said he had tested positive for the virus earlier this month.