By Abb Jones
The Reelness

Paramount Pictures again is delaying the premiere of the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick due to the recent spike in COVID-19 infections, pushing back its planned theatrical debut from November 2021 to May 2022.

The disappointing news also includes delays of Mission: Impossible 7 to September 2022 and Jackass Forever from October 2021 to February 2022. These delays come as the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the U.S. has drastically slowed the much-hoped-for rebound in moviegoers going back to theaters.

For now, MGM still plans to release its long-awaited James Bond movie, No Time to Die, in theaters on October 8th, but given the sluggish box office this year from a pandemic-wary public, don’t be surprised if more delays happen in the days and weeks ahead.