Kevin Feige explains the decision to delay Marvel Cinematic Universe's movie slate. After the Infinity Saga, the MCU was supposed to a break from releasing new content to put a separation between what came before and Phase 4. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the franchise was forced to go on an extended hiatus. This allowed Marvel Studios to focus on its budding Disney+ slate first and then slowly roll out its films.

It all started back in July with Black Widow, which had a controversial hybrid release, meaning it dropped in theaters and Disney+ Premier Access at the same time. It was only in September that the franchise exclusively returned to cinemas with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and in a couple more weeks, it will be Eternals' time to premiere. But, just as the MCU eases back into its normal schedule, it was recently reported that Marvel has delayed five of its films in varying degrees. The list includes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania.

Related: Why Marvel Just Delayed 5 Phase 4 Movies (Again)

Ever since this news broke out, people have been speculating what motivated these delays. Speaking with Variety during Eternals' Los Angeles premiere, Feige offered a simple explanation. It's mainly because of "production shifts and changes, and because we have so many slots, we can just shift slots." Watch his full answer below:

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This checks out with earlier reports explaining that the delays are mainly because of production scheduling. It's worth noting that the decision affects several other Disney tentpoles as well as it's more of a company-wide move rather than an isolated case for Marvel Studios. As it turns out, even if principal photography has already been locked, blockbusters still need a lot more time in post-production, especially with effects-heavy movies. This effectively debunks worried theories that the pushback has something to do with box office returns as the industry starts to recover from the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic. For what it's worth, the only reason why Marvel Studios' delays are magnified is because it affects its whole slate. Fortunately for them, they're able to easily move things around due to having several claimed release dates, as pointed out by Feige.

While this could be frustrating for Marvel fans who have been waiting for new content for months, this is actually a win-win for all parties concerned. Filmmakers are given more time to polish their movies, instead of rushing them, which could ultimately lead to the movies being a disappointment. They're also not run down by extremely tight work schedules. The good thing is, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue to roll out stories on the small screen via its own Disney+ slate. So, in the meantime, the public can focus on that while waiting for the next Marvel blockbuster.

More: Why Marvel's Phase 4 Delays Don't Include Guardians Of The Galaxy 3

Source: Variety