Fast & Furious 9 will no longer release on the originally scheduled date of May 22. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the much-anticipated film will now land in theaters in the United States on April 2, 2021 and globally the same month.
“We feel all the love and the anticipation you have for the next chapter in our saga,” Vin Diesel wrote on social media. “That’s why it’s especially tough to let you know that we have to move the release date of the film. It’s become clear that it won’t be possible for all of our fans around the world to see the film this May.”
“While we know there is disappointment in having to wait a little while longer, this move is made with the safety of everyone as our foremost consideration,” he added.
Universal Studios' decision to postpone Fast & Furious 9 comes as theaters are currently closed in China, Italy, and South Korea, where the impact of the coronavirus has been felt most. Many suspect theaters in the US will also be forced to close their doors.
To put it all into perspective, 75 percent of the gross from the past three Fast & Furious films has come from overseas, leading Universal to believe that profits would be minimal if the movie released on the original date.
Fast & Furious 9 isn't the only picture being pushed back due to coronavirus. The premiere date for A Quiet Place Part II was recently postponed, while new James Bond film No Time to Die has been moved from April to November.
