Disney pulls 'Death On The Nile' and 'Free Guy' from the 2020 release schedule

All eyes are on Wonder Woman 1984 now after Disney moved Death On The Nile and Free Guy from the 2020 release schedule in the latest blow to the beleaguered cinema industry.

Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptation and the Ryan Reynolds-starring sci-fi comedy were both due to arrive in December.

However, Disney has now postponed the films, with neither given new release dates. Studios have delayed movies to avoid box office disaster amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

The news comes just weeks after Reynolds, Jodie Comer and the cast of Free Guy poked fun at the ever-changing release dates of Hollywood blockbusters. The studio released a spoof teaser video that saw the cast hedging their bets by recording multiple release date stings for the film.

Read more: Patty Jenkins warns the world 'could lose movie theater-going forever'

The only major Hollywood blockbuster set to arrive this year is Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman sequel – currently slated for a Christmas release – though many predict that too will shift.

Watch the latest Wonder Woman 1984 trailer

The dearth of new films has been catastrophic for the cinema industry, which has struggled to attract customers back through the doors after the initial coronavirus lockdown.

Cinemas in England have closed again as part of the new lockdown.

Other major films to be delayed include Daniel Craig’s James Bond swansong No Time To Die, sci-fi epic Dune and Marvel superhero movie Black Widow.

Hollywood had hoped Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Tenet would entice customers back into cinemas after arriving in August, but ticket sales have been disappointing in the US, where major markets Los Angeles and New York remain closed.

Death On The Nile stars Sir Kenneth as Hercule Poirot and also features a cast including Annette Bening, Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer.

Free Guy is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Reynolds as a background character in a video game, while Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer also features.

Watch the latest trailer for Free Guy