At the onset of the year, nobody could’ve predicted that Hollywood, the biggest film industry in the world, would be brought to its knees. Yet, that’s precisely what happened when the Writers Guild of America initiated their strike a few months ago.
As if that weren’t enough, the situation escalated further when the actors guild also decided to join the strike merely two months later. As a result, several studios, including Netflix, have found themselves with no choice but to delay their highly anticipated releases.
In a flurry of disappointing news, six major Netflix movie releases are now set to face delays, forcing them to shift their release dates to 2024. Let’s take a look at all the movies that have been pushed to 2024.
Damsel
Millie Bobby Brown, renowned for her role in Stranger Things, was all set to take the lead in the fantasy film Damsel, originally slated for release on October 13. The film boasts an impressive ensemble, featuring Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, and The Expanse’s Shohreh Aghdashloo. However, fans will now have to wait as the film’s premiere date has been postponed to an undisclosed time.
Directed by Spanish filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, the film follows a dutiful damsel who falls into a trap when she agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to realize that she is being sacrificed to settle an ancient debt.
Lift
August 25 would have seen the debut of Kevin Hart’s new heist thriller film, Lift, but audiences will now have to exercise patience as the film’s premiere has been postponed. Hart stars as a seasoned thief who’s lured by his girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist on a Boeing 777 en route from London to Zurich. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ursula Corbero, Billy Magnussen, Jacob Batalon, Jean Reno, and Sam Worthington. Fortunately, Lift has secured a new release date on January 12, 2024.
Shirley
Regina King’s biopic, Shirley, centered around the remarkable life of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, was set for release this year, aiming for awards season recognition. However, disappointing test screenings have prompted a delay, pushing its debut to next year. The film will be written and directed by John Ridley.
A Family Affair
Originally scheduled to release on November 17, just in time for Thanksgiving, A Family Affair’s release date has been pushed back to an unspecified time in 2024. The upcoming romantic comedy stars Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Liza Koshy, and veteran actress Kathy Bates. The film, which is directed by Richard LaGravenese, will make way for Rustin, a biopic based on the life of American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.
Players
Gina Rodriguez, known for voicing Carmen Sandiego, takes the lead in Players, a romantic comedy. She portrays Mack, a New York sportswriter who has been setting up hook-ups with her best friend Adam (portrayed by Damon Wayans Jr.) until she encounters Tom Ellis (who stars in Lucifer) and unexpectedly falls in love with him.
The film was originally scheduled to release this fall but has now been postponed to an unannounced date.
Spaceman
Adam Sandler has been striking gold with his recent Netflix films like Uncut Gems and Hustle. This year, the 56-year-old actor had plans to release four films on the platform: Murder Mystery 2, The Out-Laws, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, and Spaceman. While the first two are out and the third is due this month, the fourth film’s release has unfortunately been pushed to next year.
Directed by Johan Renck, Spaceman is a sci-fi drama based on the fictional novel Spaceman of Bohemia that follows a space mission by the first independent Czech Republic astronaut, Jakub Prochazka. The film’s new release date has yet to be announced.
While the writers’ and actors’ strikes linger, it’s likely that various streaming services will prolong their release schedules to spread out new content, relying more on older films and TV shows. On the bright side, fans can find solace knowing that Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated Netflix space opera, Rebel Moon, remains on track for its December 22 release.
