Shang-Chi Success Reportedly Means Eternals Will Launch Exclusively in Theaters

Marvel’s Eternals will reportedly not receive a simultaneous release in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access following the success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni shared the latest in his What I’m Hearing newsletter, which covers recent happenings in the entertainment industry. This week, he delivered the news of Marvel’s Eternals release plans, revealing the powers that be over at Disney have decided to give the movie an exclusive theatrical run following the recent release of Shang-Chi.

“After Disney C.E.O. Bob Chapek basically dared Shang-Chi to perform in theaters over Labor Day weekend, and it did $94 million domestically, he couldn’t possibly put Eternals on Disney+ day-and-date, right?” Belloni quizzed in the most recent edition of his newsletter sharing his insider insight.

“I’m told Chapek and distribution chief Kareem Daniels have made their decision on the November movie’s fate, and it will indeed receive an exclusive theatrical run,” he added, noting that Disney had declined to comment on the news. “Marvel’s Kevin Feige and Angelina Jolie’s agents can exhale now.”

Chapek previously referred to Shang-Chi’s release as an “interesting experiment,” noting that the film’s performance would serve as “yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles,” though the studio had originally planned on the film being released in a “much more healthy theatrical environment.”

Unlike Marvel’s Black Widow, which received a day-and-date Disney+ release, Shang-Chi was released exclusively in theaters on September 3, and is expected to arrive on Disney+ 45 days later for all subscribers. The film rang up an estimated $71.4 million at U.S. theaters between Friday and Sunday.

The superhero action-adventure, starring Simu Liu in the titular role, ended up closing out the extended Labor Day weekend with an estimated $94.4 million in ticket sales in the U.S., with Monday boosting its tally even further. Shang-Chi also crushed 2007’s Halloween, which previously held the record for the best Labor Day opening weekend at $30.6 million.

Marvel’s Eternals is the next Phase 4 movie on deck after Shang-Chi. The film, from Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, is due out on November 5, though there has been no official announcement in regards to whether it will follow Shang-Chi and play exclusively in theaters before moving to streaming platforms or replicate Black Widow’s day-and-date release.

Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.