LOS ANGELES (Reuters)

Sony Corp’s movie studio on Thursday (August 12) delayed the release of superhero sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage by nearly a month to mid-October as the United States grapples with a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

The movie starring Tom Hardy as the Marvel Comics character will now debut in theaters on October. 15 instead of September 24, Sony Pictures said via email.

Hollywood studios have been shuffling their schedules throughout the pandemic but had hoped for a moviegoing rebound in the autumn.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 has led to a rise in infections in the United States, raising concern about whether audiences will feel safe sitting in cinemas.

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

The delay announcement comes on the heels of the disastrous first weekend box office returns of The Suicide Squad, which had received glowing reviews from critics, but made only US$26 million at the box office after failing to convicen audiences to go to cinemas.