Update: Kevin Feige opposed to Black Widow theatrical/streaming release

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Update: While nothing has been officially decided about the release of Black Widow just yet, a new report from Variety indicates that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige isn't a fan of a simultaneous theatrical/streaming release, which is why Disney remains set on releasing Black Widow in theaters, at least for now. "Feige's opinion certainly carries considerable weight at Disney," reads Variety's report. "But that doesn't mean the powers that be can't eventually convince Feige to change his mind — or overrule him completely." Variety's sources say that Disney still has between three to four weeks before they have to make a choice about the release of the Marvel film.

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Marvel Studio's Black Widow was once slated to debut in theaters on May 1, 2020, but as we know, COVID-19 changed just about everything and the release of the film was delayed again and again. At the moment, Black Widow is currently set for a May 7, 2021 release, but it remains to be seen whether or not Disney/Marvel will be forced to push the film back once again.

There have been numerous rumblings that the studio might choose to launch Black Widow on the Disney+ streaming service instead, or perhaps as a simultaneous theatrical/streaming release, but during the recent Disney's investors call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek says that they're "still intending for it to be a theatrical release," although he added that "We are going to be watching very carefully to see whether that strategy needs to be revisited." As we've already seen several blockbusters flee from their 2021 release dates, such as No Time to Die, so I wouldn't be surprised if Black Widow gets bumped again. That said, the company will be experimenting with a simultaneous theatrical/streaming release with Raya and the Last Dragon, which will debut in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5th. I would wager that Disney will be looking at that premiere very closely. "Some films we will take theatrically," Chapek explained.
"Some films we will take to Disney Premiere Access. And in some cases, we will take it directly to service [Disney Plus]. It’s really about flexibility. We’re going to steer our decision making over time given [the needs] of our subscriber base."

The official synopsis for Black Widow:

In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Black Widow is currently slated to hit theaters on May 7, 2021, but I suppose we'll have to see what happens.