'West Side Story' Movie Pushed back to 2021

The impact of COVID-19 is looking to impact the movie industry yet again.

West Side Story, which stars Ansel Elgort and newcomer Rachel Zegler in the lead roles, was originally set to arrive on December 18. Instead, it will now arrive on December 10, 2021.

The change of date suggests that Disney will be giving this a huge awards season push. It should be noted that while movies like Tenet made it a point to be released in theaters, fears of such gatherings depleted its box office potential.

The move also further distances the film’s possible backlash over Ansel Elgort who faced claims of sexual assault this past summer, which he denied.

Disney also delayed three huge Marvel movies, with Black Widow moving to May 2021. Eternals and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings were pushed to later next year as well as a result.

Death on the Nile, a follow-up to 2017's Murder on the Orient Express. Director Kenneth Branagh's thriller will now arrive on December 18, taking over the old date occupied by West Side Story.