Sony has announced that they are pushing back the release of the horror comic book adaptation Morbius two months from its anticipated launch date of January 28 to April 1.
The film is based on the Marvel Comics character who, while trying to cure a rare blood disease they are suffering from, turns themselves into a living vampire. Jared Leto is starring as the titular scientist. The film also stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson.
Sony owns the film rights to the character as part of their overall Spider-Man rights package. The studio is looking at Morbius as being a cornerstone in a larger cinematic universe that leverages these characters.
Although Sony has given no official word for the move, it could be in response to the rising number of cases from the covid omicron variant. The city of Ontario ordered movie theaters temporarily closed earlier today in response to similarly rising reported infection cases in that city.
This is the fifth time that the film has been pushed back since its original release planned for July 2020 was scuttled due to covid-related theater closures.
The move places the female-fronted action pic The 355 and the fifth installment in the Scream franchise to be the only major releases for the month.
