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What Disney Movies Are We Missing Because of the Strikes?

avatar the way of water tuk
Credit: Disney

As most people know, a writer’s guild strike and a screen actors’ guild strike are taking place in California. But what new Disney movies have been delayed due to the Hollywood strikes?

The Walt Disney Studios

Credit: Disney

Hollywood Strikes and Disney Movies

There are multiple reasons why agreements have yet to be met, and as of now, there are no immediate plans for either of the strikes to end soon. However, some may wonder which new Disney films have been put on hold, canceled, or paused indefinitely due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. So what are we missing because of the strikes? Let’s explore…

RELATED: Is Bob Iger Apologizing After Crude SAG Strike Remarks?

Avatar Sequels

Avatar is a series that has a long list of delays unrelated to the recent strikes. The first sequel took over eight years to produce and Walt Disney World Resort took several years to create the themed land in Animal Kingdom.

Credit: Photo by Twentieth Century-Fox Film

Credit: Fox Studios

Although Avatar: The Way of Water was a shining bright spot on Disney’s box office over the past year, the subsequent films are currently all on hold. The original plan to create four sequels means that fans of the franchise will have to wait another few years before seeing Avatar 3 (now 2025), Avatar 4 (now 2029), and Avatar 5 (now 2031).

RELATED: Disney Delays Avatar, Star Wars and Marvel

Deadpool 3

This long-anticipated sequel is an unusual project in and of itself. The Deadpool series has taken superhero films into the R-rating territory, and with this one teased as tying Deadpool into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it makes it the first R-rated MCU film.

On set at the filming of Deadpool 3

Credit: Marvel Studios

Although some of this movie has been filmed and features the return of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and Jennifer Garner as Elektra, it has since been put on hold. With a current release date of May 2024, that timeline seems more unrealistic with each passing week.

Lilo & Stitch

This live-action remake might also be destined for hard times, even after the strikes are over.

Lilo & Stitch

Credit: Disney

Although an official release date has yet to be released, this movie may likely be delayed even beyond the Hollywood strikes. Even if the studios sort things out with writers and actor unions, there’s also the issue of wildfires in Hawaii. Not that all of the islands are destroyed, or the movie MUST be filmed on location, but it can still pose a problem for a movie in the Aloha State.

RELATED: Will Live Action Stitch Be Stuff of Nightmares?

Captain America: Brave New World

This fourth installment in the Captain America series has been pushed back a few months to a release date of July 2024. It will feature Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as Captain America instead of Chris Evans, which may already be setting it up for failure.

Captain America Falcon

Credit: Disney

Additional Marvel Movies

Other Marvel delays, as reported by Variety include Thunderbolts, Blade, Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars.

RELATED: Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Timeline Decoded: A Beginner’s Guide

However, the ripple effect of the strikes will cause additional delays for many more products in pre-production (film, tv shows, streaming). It will be curious to see how long the strikes will continue and if any further projects from Walt Disney Studios are pushed back or canceled altogether.

About Steven Wilk

Steven has a complicated relationship with Disney. As a child, he visited Walt Disney World every few years with his family. But he never understood why kids his age (and older) were so scared of Snow White or Alien Encounter. He is a former participant of the Disney College Program (left early…long story), and he also previously worked in Children’s publishing, where he adapted multiple Disney movies and TV shows. He has many controversial opinions about Disney…like having a positive view of Michael Eisner, believing Return of the Jedi is superior to The Empire Strikes Back, and that Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge should have never been built (at least not at Hollywood Studios). Every year for the past two decades, Steven has visited either Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani or went on a Disney Cruise. He’s happy to share any and all knowledge of the Disney destinations (and he likes using parenthesis a lot…as well as ellipses…)