(Adds details on film, box office)
LOS ANGELES, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Sony Corp's movie
studio is delaying the January release of Marvel superhero movie
"Morbius" until April 1, the studio said in a statement on
Monday.
The film starring Jared Leto in the title role has been
postponed several times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its most
recent planned release date was Jan. 28.
For movie theater operators, the delay is a setback as they
try to rebound from extended closures during the COVID crisis.
Chains including AMC Entertainment, Cinemark
Holdings Inc and Cineworld Group have been
celebrating blockbuster ticket sales for Sony's "Spider-Man: No
Way Home." While "No Way Home" is still playing in cinemas,
operators have few other big titles on their schedule until
spring.
The rapidly spreading Omicron variant has raised new concern
about whether audiences will feel comfortable heading to
theaters during the pandemic.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine;
Editing by Sandra Maler)
