Biggest theater chains delay reopenings yet again

Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t improving any (in fact, quite the opposite), it comes as no surprise that movie chains are delaying their projected reopenings.

Regal Cinemas, for example, had hoped to reopen its theaters on July 10. Now comes word that the company has pushed that date back to July 31. AMC, the world’s largest exhibition company, announced it won’t reopen until July 30.

Cineworld, the UK company that owns Regal Cinemas, said in a press release, “In line with recent adjustments to the schedule of upcoming movie releases, Cineworld will re-open its cinemas in the UK starting Friday July 31, subject to final clarifications and confirmation in relation to government COVID-19 restrictions.”

In the U.S., what with the upsurge in coronavirus cases in the country’s most important markets — including Los Angeles and New York — the move to July 31 is being called “provisional.”

Film release dates have shifted, too, among them Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” to Aug. 12 and Disney’s live-action “Mulan” to Aug. 21.

“If the last couple of weeks have taught us anything, it’s that release dates are a continually moveable feast right now,” wrote Tom Grater for Deadline.com. “Ultimately, distributors can only react to the situation they are presented with, and that is changing on an almost daily basis right now.”

Regal Cinemas theaters in Spokane are at Northtown Mall, Spokane Valley Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium. AMC River Park Square is the immediate area’s only AMC site.