Disney delays Snow White, Elio release, removes Jonathan Majors' Magazine Dreams amid actors' strike

As the actors' strike continues to grip the entertainment industry, major studios are racing to rearrange their 2024 theatrical release calendars. Disney, a major player in the film industry, recently made significant changes to its lineup. Disney announced that its highly anticipated live-action Snow White movie, starring Rachel Zegler, will be delayed by a year. Originally scheduled for a March 22, 2024 release, Disney's Snow White will now hit theaters on March 21, 2025. This film is among Disney's flagship offerings for the year and plays a vital role in the studio's spring release slate.

Pixar's Elio gets a new release date

In a move that mirrors Disney's strategy, Pixar's animated tentpole, Elio, is also facing a significant delay. Initially set to premiere on March 1, 2024, Elio will now grace the big screen on June 13, 2025. In an unrelated development, Disney and Searchlight have removed Magazine Dreams, a film starring Jonathan Majors, from the December 2023 release calendar.

This decision was widely expected due to legal troubles faced by Jonathan Majors, who is due to stand trial in New York for misdemeanour harassment and assault charges. After actor Jonathan Majors sexual harassment case was ruled out by judges, the ‘Creed’ star’s accuser, his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari has also not been sued by the District Attorney. Majors through an attorney has called the decision of not prosecuting his accuser a "serious injustice."

The actor was arrested in Manhattan on March 25, and was charged with assault and aggravated harassment after an alleged domestic dispute with Jabbari, who was his girlfriend at the time. Majors’ trial is scheduled to begin on November 29. Meanwhile, the film had premiered at Sundance earlier in the year and was considered an awards season contender, primarily for Majors' role as an aspiring bodybuilder. 

Strike stretches past 100 days

The ongoing actors' strike has now surpassed 100 days, creating an air of uncertainty in the industry. Disney's CEO Bob Iger and other prominent Hollywood CEOs have conveyed to the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) that a deadline is imminent regarding decisions on film release schedules if an agreement cannot be reached. According to multiple sources, this deadline is looming around the first week of November, possibly November 1.

Potential for more release date changes

With the strike negotiations hanging in the balance, there's a growing likelihood of further shifts in release dates, particularly for the summer blockbuster season in 2024.

Notably, Disney has not addressed the status of Deadpool 3, a highly anticipated film from Marvel Studios originally slated to open in early May of the same year. The film is virtually assured of relocating its release date, as it was among several Hollywood productions affected by the actors' strike.

As the strike talks continue, the entertainment industry remains on edge, and studios like Disney are making strategic decisions to adapt to the evolving landscape. The fate of Deadpool 3 and other major releases may hang in the balance, awaiting further developments in the ongoing negotiations.