Release of Venom’s sequel, postponed due to COVID-19

LOS ANGELES:  Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Thursday that the superhero sequel “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” will be delayed by nearly a month, to mid-October, as the US battles a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections.

The film featuring Tom Hardy as the Marvel Comics character will now be released on October 15 instead of September 24, according to Sony Pictures.

Throughout the pandemic, Hollywood studios have shuffled their schedules, but they had planned for a moviegoing comeback in the autumn.

Infections caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19 have increased in the United States, prompting concerns about whether moviegoers will feel safe sitting in theatres.

The original “Venom” movie in 2018 took in more than $850 million at global box offices.