Once again, the X-Men horror film, New Mutants, may receive another pushback for release.
It’s difficult to fathom, but the first New Mutants trailer released over one year ago, on Oct. 17, 2017. A laundry list of superhero films have released since, including Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp and Aquaman. By the time this X-Men spinoff hits theaters, two Avengers movies will have arrived.
New Mutants was pushed back last year to Aug. 2, 2019, which closes in on two years since its first footage aired, partially due to reshoots. However, it’s potentially in for yet another delayed release, per Scott Bechtel of Merc with a Podcast.
Fox and director Josh Boone are “really struggling” to agree on a “comprehensible” and finished product. If this continues, they may just release it on Hulu in October, given the likely poor value of airing in theaters.
Just heard a whisper through the grapevine. #newmutants will be delayed again. Fox & Boone are really struggling coming to terms on a comprehensible and finish product. They're looking to release it in early November. But...
— Scott Bechtel (@ZOMBIEHIGHX23) January 11, 2019
Fox is still toying with a Hulu release in October for #newmutants. They're trying to decide which method would have a more returnable value for an otherwise dead on arrival film.
— Scott Bechtel (@ZOMBIEHIGHX23) January 11, 2019
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The longer the wait, the less desirable this film becomes, especially when it’s already scheduled for after the heart of the summer. The trailer was already released so long ago — obviously prematurely at this point — making it an afterthought to everything else that has arrived. It will even fall behind X-Men: Dark Phoenix, which was also pushed back to a June 7 release.
This has developed as Disney prepares to acquire assets from Fox in a groundbreaking deal. For moviegoers, it means the X-Men, Deadpool and Fantastic Four will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, putting everything developed under the Fox umbrella in jeopardy.
If the deal finalizes before New Mutants releases, it creates a murkier situation for this film to find success. It’s not Disney-made, and the characters outside the MCU can receive fresh reboots and have their previous continuity pushed aside. Bad news for the X-Men prequel cast, as well, but the House of Mouse can do whatever it wants.
Maybe New Mutants surprises in whichever format it releases, either in theaters or on Hulu, but after a year of doubt and the potential for a longer wait, it spells trouble.