Black Widow will get dual theater/streaming release on July 9

Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow
(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Disney today announced another shift in its release schedule for the next few years. The headline, however, is that Marvel's Black Widow — which has been sitting on a shelf for some time now — will see a dual release July 9 in theaters and as part of the Disney+ Premier Access program. Cruella also will see the same treatment when it's released on May 28.

That's a scheme by which you'll have to pay an extra $29.99 to watch the movie on top of your regular Disney+ subscription. Cruella is the third and Black Widow will be the fourth film to see a Premier Access release, after the live-action remake of Mulan, and Raya and the Last Dragon.

“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences," Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, said in a press release. "By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world,” 

Elsewhere on the Marvel front, you can look for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to release on Sept. 3, 2021, and Eternals on Nov. 5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will open on March 25, 2022, followed by Thor: Love and Thunder on May 6, Black Panther 2 on July 8, and Captain Marvel 2 on Nov. 11. (An untitled Marvel film will drop on Oct. 7.)

Avatar's four follow-ups also made it onto the schedule, with Avatar 2 slated for Dec. 23, 2022. The follow-ups will come in December of 2024, 2026 and 2028.

And the Star Wars film Rogue Squadron is set for Dec. 22, 2023.

The news comes just ahead of the Disney+ price in increase in the United States. Starting March 26, Disney+ will cost $7.99 a month, or $79.99 a year. (That's an increase of $1 a month, and $10 a year.) The Disney Bundle — which also includes Hulu and ESPN+ — will cost $13.99 with ads on Hulu, and $19.99 a month if you want to get rid of ads.

MORE: Here's how to watch all the Marvel movies in order
Also: Check out Disney+ on Apple TV

Here's the full slate of upcoming Disney film releases through 2022 as they stand today:

  • May 28, 2021: Cruella
  • July 9, 2021: Black Widow
  • July 16, 2021: The Night House
  • July 30, 2021: Jungle Cruise
  • Aug. 13, 2021: Free Guy
  • Aug. 27, 2021: The Beatles: Get Back
  • Sept. 3, 2021: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  • Sept. 24, 2021: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
  • Oct. 15, 2021: The Last Duel
  • Oct. 22, 2021: Ron's Gone Wrong
  • Oct. 29, 2021: Antlers
  • Nov. 5, 2021: Eternals
  • Nov. 24, 2021: Encanto
  • Dec. 3, 2021: Nightmare Alley
  • Dec. 10, 2021: West Side Story
  • Dec. 22, 2021: The King's Man
  • Jan. 7, 2022: Untitled 20th Century film
  • Jan. 14, 2022: Deep Water
  • Feb. 11, 2022: Death on the Nile
  • March 11, 2022: Turning Red
  • March 25, 2022: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
  • April 8, 2022: Untitled Disney live-action film
  • May 6, 2022: Thor: Love and Thunder
  • May 27, 2022: Untitled Disney live-action film
  • June 10, 2022: Untitled 20th Century film
  • June 17, 2022: Lightyear
  • July 8, 2022: Black Panther 2
  • July 28, 2022: Untitled Indiana Jones film
  • August 12, 2022: Untitled Disney live-action film
  • September 16, 2022: Untitled 20th Century film
  • Oct. 7, 2022: Untitled Marvel film
  • Nov. 4, 2022: Untitled Disney live-action film
  • Nov. 11, 2022: Captain Marvel 2
  • Nov. 23, 2022: Untitled Disney animation film
  • Dec. 17, 2022: Avatar 2
  • Dec. 23, 2022: Untitled 20th Century film 
Phil Nickinson

Phil spent his 20s in the newsroom of the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, his 30s on the road for AndroidCentral.com and Mobile Nations and is the Dad part of Modern Dad.