Is Disney Making Delta Covid Worse By Doing a Theater Only Release of Shang-Chi?

With Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings now out in theaters, audiences are wondering if Disney's decision to release the film only on the big screen is hypocritical, given the fact they've previously ‘dual-released' other major box office films onto their streaming service Disney+, and also whether they're making the COVID-19 Delta strain worse, by leaving moviegoers with no other option than to flood theaters to see the latest installment in the incredibly popular MCU franchise.

During the height of the pandemic, Disney simultaneously released a number of new films in both theaters and on Disney+, such as Mulan, Cruella, Jungle Cruise, and Black Widow, although being able to watch them on the streaming service does involve upgrading your existing membership to 'Premier Access' – something many people are happy to do, given that it's still cheaper and safer than visiting the theater. But are Disney reckless hypocrites for making this decision? Let's dive in a little deeper, but first, check out the trailer for the new movie below:

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which premiered on Friday, September 3, is the 25^th film in the incredibly lucrative MCU franchise and has opened with $8.8 million. The film sees martial-arts master Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), who was trained as a young boy to become an assassin, drawn into the mysterious Ten Rings organization. In an ordinary world, there would be no problem with releasing the movie in theaters alone, but given the current climate, and the fact that this is inconsistent with what Disney has done previously, it does beg to question whether it's the right move.

With that said, there is some justification behind this, and it may end up on Disney+ sooner than we think anyway, as the film is currently on a ‘45-day exclusive theatrical release'. Disney CEO Bob Chapek previously explained that the latest MCU installment would be theater-only due to "last-minute changes", and that the 45-day exclusive theatrical release is "an interesting experiment" for Disney to learn how audiences prefer to watch movies - although this does seem like a bit of a scapegoat.

This comment was also met with backlash from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actor Simu Liu, who took to Twitter to say the following: "We are not an experiment. We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise. I'm fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US." However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige was quick to point out that the actor had misunderstood Chapek's comments.

Either way, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings isn't the first time there has been controversy surrounding an MCU release and its relationship with the popular streaming service. Last month, it was announced that Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson was filing a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, after Disney+ breached a stipulation in her contract that states that the film would only release theatrically, meaning that Johansson will miss out on additional revenues made from the dual-release.

Disney has since hit back at the star, calling the lawsuit a "callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic", adding that they had "fully complied" with her contract. These comments appear to be an attempt to paint the actress in a poor light, and it seems that Disney isn't willing to take any accountability for breaching their contract with Johansson. And now, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings bypassing Disney+, despite all other new movies having appeared on there on the same days as their theatrical releases, it's possible this decision is a knee-jerk reaction to the Johansson controversy.

Either way, it's fair to say that restricting Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to theaters only does put people at risk, as COVID-19 cases continue to pose a threat in public places - of this there is no question. And Chapek's justification for foregoing a dual-release seems vague at best, with Disney potentially using the market research excuse as a get-out-of-jail-free card. In other words, having breached contractual agreements with their release of Black Widow, it's possible they're now trying to avoid any further lawsuits and controversy from the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actor.

With all that said, the film will eventually find its way onto Disney+, and this could happen right after the 45-day window. But this doesn't change the fact that Disney previously didn't hesitate in dual-releasing other huge blockbusters, like Jungle Cruise and Black Widow. Meanwhile, other studios continue to delay the release of their films, amid fears of future COVID-19 outbreaks, with Venom: Let Their Be Carnage being among the latest examples. Should Disney have done the same? Perhaps the box office figures alone will speak over the next week or so, as it's likely many fans will skip the theatrical release.

Related: Shang-Chi Release Date on Disney Plus: How and When You Can Watch

The reasons behind the 45-day exclusive theatrical release, however, are likely true, and there may be more that we don't know going on behind the scenes from a legal perspective. But it's unlikely we're getting the full picture. As for the audiences, if they want the full picture of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, for the time being, they have no choice but to hit movie theaters. Many will, of course, feel comfortable doing so, but there will be plenty who won't – and who could blame them, when COVID-19 continues to be a problem all around the world.

And then there's also the case of spoilers – naturally, people want to avoid spoilers for films, but may feel forced to visit theaters so that the film isn't ruined for them while they wait for it to hit Disney+. On the other hand, spoilers are avoidable, provided you're able to manage your use of social media sensibly. So, are Disney hypocrites for not dual-releasing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings? Until we get the full reason as to why then that's what many people will think. As for whether they're encouraging people to visit movie theaters during uncertain times and putting them at risk when they could have easily delayed the film instead, then the answer is probably.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is out in theaters now and is part of the MCU's Phase Four. Other upcoming MCU movies include Marvel's Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home, both of which are also unlikely to be dual-released on Disney+. But what does this mean for those who have signed up for the streaming service's Premier Access? We'll just have to wait and see how the 45-day "experiment" pans out for the latest MCU installment.