You'll need to put that popcorn on ice for a little bit longer.
A number of blockbuster films have this week had their long-touted release dates pushed back yet again, as many cinemas around the world remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Studios have subsequently scrambled to postpone release dates, to ensure moviegoers will be able to see the latest Hollywood titles on the big screen.
James Bond's 25th film, No Time to Die, Wonder Woman 1984 and Black Widow are among the big-name titles which have already been postponed.
Below, we've rounded up the most anticipated films which have had their previously advertised release dates shelved this week.
'Avatar 2'
Disney has pushed back the release date for the sequel to its 2009 fantasy epic. Originally due to hit cinemas in December 2021, the follow-up to James Cameron's hit film, set in the imagined world of Pandora, is now scheduled for December 16, 2022.
The news has also affected the three further sequels planned, with Avatar 3 moving to December 2024, Avatar 4 moving to December 2026 and Avatar 5 closing the chapter in December 2028.
Director Cameron addressed the news in a post on social media on Thursday, July 23, saying "there is no one more disappointed about this delay than me".
While filming resumed in New Zealand in June, the filmmaker added that production in Los Angeles still remained on pause.
"But I am buoyed by the incredible performances of our cast and the extraordinary work that Weta Digital is doing brining the world of Pandora and the characters of the film to life," Cameron added in his statement.
'Mulan'
The live-action remake of Disney’s 1998 animated classic has been delayed for a third time, having first been pushed back from March to July, and then until August.
The $200 million (Dh734.6m) remake, which stars Liu Yifei in the title role, will now be indefinitely postponed.
"Over the last few months, it's become clear that nothing can be set in stone when it comes to how we release films during this global health crisis," Disney said in a statement on Thursday, July 23. "Today that means pausing our release plans for Mulan as we assess how we can most effectively bring this film to audiences around the world."
'Star Wars'
The latest trilogy in the intergalactic franchise has pushed back each of its release dates by a year. The first in the trio, which was due to be unveiled in December 2022, will now arrive in cinemas in December 2023, with the other two films released in 2025 and 2027 respectively.
'Tenet'
The release of Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated sci-fi flick has been delayed indefinitely, Warner Bros said on Monday, July 20.
The latest postponement is the fourth time the release date for the big-budget movie has been changed because of the pandemic. The film was originally scheduled for release on July 17, then changed to July 31 and later to August 12.
"Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to proliferate, causing us to re-evaluate our release dates," Warner Bros Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich said in a statement.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
You'll have to wait a little longer to see Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their roles from the 1986 classic. The sequel, which also stars Jon Hamm, Miles Teller and Ed Harris, is moving from December 23, 2020 to July 1, 2021, according to Paramount.
"We truly believe that there is no movie-viewing experience like the one enjoyed in theatres," Paramount president of domestic distribution, Chris Aronson, said in a statement.
'A Quiet Place II'
The follow-up to the 2018 thriller hit is being delayed from September 4, 2020 to April 23, 2021. The John Krasinski-directed film, which stars Emily Blunt alongside Cillian Murphy and Noah Jupe, follows the story of the Abbott family, who face threats as they fight for their survival in silence, in a world where monsters are attracted to sound.
'Spider-Man 3'
The Marvel Universe has announced that the third chapter in its Spider-Man story, starring Tom Holland, has been delayed from November 5, 2021 to December 17, 2021.
All release dates are subject to change.
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Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Company%20profile
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The National selections
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8.15pm Dark Of Night
8.50pm Mythical Magic
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam
Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border
He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push
His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 25
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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