Sony postpones the theatrical release of the Monster Hunter adaptation with Milla Jovovich for the coronavirus and date dance in the film industry.
It was an open secret, but finally Sony has already made it official. As reported to us from Deadline, the film adaptation of Monster Hunter with Milla Jovovich as the protagonist has been delayed due to the coronavirus and the situation in the United States. The film was scheduled for September 4, 2020, but the change of plans postpones its screening in theaters until April 23, 2021. More than seven months late, allowing him to wait for the waters to calm down and avoid crowding that the billboards of half the world will live at the end of the year.
Choose your weapon. See the Official Teaser Posters for @Monster_Hunter, in theaters this fall. #PAXEast pic.twitter.com/aRt7K9WFwi
– Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) February 28, 2020
It should be remembered that the film, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson (also responsible for the adaptations of Resident Evil), was already affected by the first coronavirus outbreak and the corresponding date dance in the industry. Productions like A Quiet Place 2 had to change their release date and, in this specific case, they moved their date to September 4, competing Monster Hunter. Sony’s movement not only seeks to get rid of coinciding with such launches, but also the possible closure of theaters in the United States during the months of August and September. This week the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has stated that due to the huge number of coronavirus cases he is seriously considering a new confinement and the corresponding closure of businesses, including cinemas.
Other video game movies
Following the premiere of Sonic: The Movie earlier in the year (whose success has guaranteed a sequel), Monster Hunter was the closest adaptation on the premiere horizon, but not the only one. Also on the way are the new Mario Bros. film, which will be animated and scheduled for 2022; Uncharted’s version with Tom Holland, dated October 8, 2021; and even the adaptation of Minecraft, which has recently lost its director. To these we should add a huge string of names, but most of them still in very early pre-production phases. These are the cases of Five Nights at Freddys, Mega Man, Metal Gear Solid, The Division and Rainbow Six, of which there is still nothing concrete beyond negotiations and rumors about their possible roster.