Disney+ has revealed the date that prequel to the rest of Phase 4, but Black Widow still offers viewers the first chance to see Natasha Romanoff as the main character of a Marvel Studios project. However, the wait to see the movie and the way fans will experience it have changed dramatically since it was announced.

Marvel Studios planned to released Black Widow in theaters at the beginning of May in 2020 but had to change these plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The blockbuster was delayed multiple times before Disney and Marvel elected to give it a new release plan. Black Widow is coming out in theaters and on Disney+ via Premier Access on July 9, 2021. The decision to give viewers the option to see the movie in theaters or at home has been praised by Disney's CEO, Bob Chapek, for the flexibility it gives consumers. In order to watch Black Widow on Disney+ on July 9, though, subscribers must pay an additional $29.99 to purchase the film.

Related: Disney's Black Widow Release Plan Continues Endgame's Natasha Failure

The additional cost to see Black Widow on Disney+ as a Premier Access title won't last forever. After announcing that tickets and pre-orders are now on sale, the landing page for the movie on Disney+ revealed when it will be available for free to subscribers. Comicbook shared that Black Widow will release on Disney+ at no extra cost for all subscribers starting on October 6, 2021.

Scarlet Johansson's Natasha Romanoff and Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova riding a motorcycle in Black Widow

This puts consumers in an intriguing situation when it comes to determining what the best path is to see Black Widow. Eager MCU fans and movie theater enthusiasts might rush out to cinemas to get a few hours of a jump start on the Disney+ launch. They'll also possibly get to see 30 minutes of Black Widow in IMAX if the right format is chosen. Depending on the size of the party seeing the movie, it might also be the more affordable option. Meanwhile, large groups of people who aren't ready to return to theaters can decide between paying $29.99 to see Black Widow as soon as July 9 or wait nearly three months to have it automatically available to them through their existing Disney+ subscriptions.

Black Widow is now also in a position to have multiple chances to pop and connect with audiences. The movie is in the midst of a huge push for its initial release, which should see Black Widow dominate the pop culture conversation in some fashion. It will then receive another boost once it gets a digital and home video release. Marvel and Disney have yet to confirm a specific release date for either, but Black Widow digital s, blu-rays, and 4Ks could be available for purchase by late September. Now that Black Widow is coming to Disney+ at no extra cost in October, the movie could retain its relevance for months after it debuts.

MORE: Black Widow's Trailer Proves It Isn't Releasing Too Late

Source: Comicbook