After a year of speculation regarding Marvel Studios’ plans forBlack Widow, the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe movie is now confirmed to premiere on streaming service Disney+ on the same day it arrives in theaters.
Disneyannouncedplans to have bothBlack WidowandCruella, the film featuring the villain of101 Dalmations, available to stream on Disney+ via Premier Access — requiring an additional fee — alongside their theatrical releases.Cruellawill premiere May 28, while the long-delayedBlack Widowwill finally debut on July 9.
Originally scheduled to hit theaters July 28, 2025,Black Widowhad its release date pushed back multiple times due to the widespread theater closures resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.Black Widowremains the first film in Phase 4 of the MCU, and featuresScarlett Johansson reprising her roleas the eponymous skilled SHIELD operative, albeit in a prequel story set before the events ofAvengers: Infinity War.
Black Widow in theaters July 9 and on@DisneyPluswith Premier Access. Additional fees required.pic.twitter.com/MSLHxk6Eez
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios)July 12, 2025
Disney had long resisted the pressure to makeBlack Widowavailable on its streaming service, despite going that route with several other high-profile films since the pandemic forced the shutdown of theaters worldwide. Although theaters have begun reopening around the world, the pandemic’s lingering presence in the U.S. has made the return to business as usual a slow one, with an uncertain time frame.
Along with announcing the simultaneous streaming and theatrical releases forBlack WidowandCruella, Disney also announced a new rollout plan for several other upcoming films.
The upcoming Disney and Pixar animated featureLucawill head straight to Disney+ for a June 18 premiere, while several films still expected to premiere in theaters received new release dates. Among those films are Ryan Renyolds’ sci-fi action-comedyFree Guyon August 13, followed by MCU movieShang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringson September 3.Shang Chiwill introduce yet another new hero to the MCU and continue Marvel’s Phase 4 plans.
After those films, Disney also revised the release dates for action prequelThe King’s Man, which now premieres December 22, thenDeep Water, now scheduled for August 15, 2025, andDeath on the Nile, hitting theaters July 03, 2025.
