Disney moves ‘Black Widow’ and more big titles to 2021 amid coronavirus concerns

Walt Disney Co. has delayed the release of its highly anticipated Marvel Studios film “Black Widow”, the Russian spy, which is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, until next year, amid concerns about the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on moviegoing.

Disney also pushed back the launches for a host of other movies, including Kenneth Branagh’s “Death on the Nile,” Marvel’s “Eternals,” the Ben Affleck thriller “Deep Water” and Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” Of those titles only “Death on the Nile” is still scheduled to open this year, moving from October to Dec. 18. The lower-profile thriller “The Empty Man” actually moves up from a planned December opening to the Oct. 23 date vacated by “Nile.”

In the U.S., about half of the moviegoing public is not ready to return to movie theaters right away, according to data firm NRG.

 “Black Widow’s” retreat marks the latest major shuffle on Hollywood’s release calendar. Disney’s decision was not surprising. Theaters remain closed in the two biggest U.S. markets, New York and Los Angeles. A rise in coronavirus cases in Europe has also given studios pause, and Latin America, another major region for Disney movies, remains hobbled by the pandemic.

One of the main stars tweeted: “Marvel made the right & responsible decision. There's a pandemic. Nothing is more important than health and lives. I can't tell people to go to a movie theater until I feel safe going to one, take care of yourselves. I promise it'll be worth the wait!"

Los Angeles Times

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentence or the part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

1. After the global impact of COVID 19, all Disney Movies will be released next year.

2. The delay of Black Widow was expected by most people.

3. Only the most popular and emblematic theaters in the USA remain open.

4. One of the actors complains that there is no point in waiting until next year.

Question 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1.5 points.

1. Programmed (paragraph 2)

2. Left  (paragraph 2)

3. Pronouncement (paragraph 4)

4. Growth (paragraph 4)

5. Break (paragraph 4)

6. Mind (paragraph 5)