After multiple delays,The New Mutantshas finally been released in theaters as more cinemas across the world begin to reopen. However, Maisie Williams, who portrays Wolfsbane in the film, advised fans who feel unsafe venturing back to theaters to consider waiting until they can watch the latestX-Menfilm at home instead.
In spring,movie theaters around the world shut downon government orders in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. While the pandemic remains a threat, certain areas in the United States and other corners of the globe are beginning to re-open theaters andThe New Mutantsis one of the new releases exhibitors are hoping can entice moviegoers back to cinemas.
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The release ofThe New Mutantsfollows a series of delays that started when the film was pushed back from its original April 2018 date to February 2019 and then again to August of the same year to avoid the theatrical debut ofDark Phoenix. After Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the studio rescheduledThe New Mutantsfor an July 20, 2025, release until itpostponed the film’s theatrical releasedue to the pandemic.
During an interview with Variety, Maisie Williams admitted that there was a point when she believedThe New Mutantsmight never be released in theaters. “I knew that they spent $80 million on it, so I thought, if this movie never comes out, that is such a huge waste of money that really could have made a huge impact in the world. I’m so glad that it is coming out, finally. I hope that people enjoy it. I did definitely think in the middle that maybe it would go straight to streaming. But it’s going to come out in the theater, so I hope that maybe we’ll get a good turnout. I don’t know if anyone’s really going outside,” Williams said.
Whiletheater owners are taking precautionary measuresto sanitize screening rooms and ensure the safety of patrons as best they can, moviegoers are still trying to decide if returning to cinemas is worth the risk of contracting COVID-19. “I just hope that people wear masks and that cinemas are clean. I know there is quite an intense cleaning that happens in between films anyway. So I would hope that the extra precautions can be knitted in fairly easily to the viewing schedule. But I just hope people are safe,” Williams said of people potentially returning to theaters to seeThe New Mutants. However, Williams assured fans it would be fine if they skipped seeing the film in theaters should they feel unsafe, saying, “if people don’t feel comfortable, don’t go watch it. It’s going to come out on DVD at some point, you’re able to watch it then.”
Of course, Williams wasn’t the only one who thoughtThe New Mutantsmight end up on a streaming service and some argued it would be the safer route for people to see the film. However, director Josh Boone explained thatcontractual obligations required a theatrical releasefor the latest entry in theX-Menfilm series.
Reviews forThe New Mutantshave been largely negative so far with some describing the film was one of theworst installments of the X-Men franchise. So the decision on whether or not to skip seeingThe New Mutantsin theaters may not be difficult after all.
The New Mutantsis now playing in theaters.
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