Cruella, Black Widow to hit theatres & Disney Plus on same day   

Disney has announced that Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson and Cruella, featuring Emma Stone, will be released simultaneously in the theatres and on streaming service Disney Plus.

The studio's decision ends a year-long uncertainty over the company's two major projects that were originally planned as theatre releases last year.

Black Widow, the long-awaited solo film about Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero Natasha Romanoff, has been pushed back by two months and will now get a release on July 9 instead of May 7.

The superhero film, directed by Cate Shortlan, has been delayed three times since the pandemic started last year. It was originally scheduled to release in theatres on May 20, 2020.

Cruella, the prequel to 101 Dalmatians, that serves as an origin story for the iconic villain, is arriving as scheduled on May 28.

Meanwhile, Pixar's Luca will skip theatres entirely and debut exclusively on Disney Plus on June 18.

"Today's announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences. By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company's unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world," Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, said in a statement.

But Disney doesn't plan to entirely ditch theatres as it announced that its other titles, which mostly belong to 20th Century Studios, will solely debut on the big screen.