The wait is finally over for some of the biggest films and shows delayed by the pandemic

Dozens of major film and television productions were put on hold when the pandemic hit, only to be followed by repeated false starts and rescheduling as the COVID-19 crisis kept spiking. But the fall season is a prime release spot for blockbusters, TV hits and awards contenders — and this year could be an embarrassment of riches.

With so many films and television shows having been delayed into fall 2021, viewers can expect to see new fare from some of their favourite filmmakers, highly anticipated Marvel movies, the return of popular television shows (Succession fans, it's your moment!) and other exciting additions to the small screen.

The wait is finally over.

In Dune (Oct. 22), Timothée Chalamet plays a young noble who journeys with his family to a treacherous planet where a mysterious resource grants immeasurable power to anyone who possesses it. Canadian director Denis Villeneuve's penchant for large-scale productions with gripping visuals and superstar casts make Dune an exciting option for a trip to the theatre or at-home viewing on HBO Max.

Meanwhile, Sopranos film prequel The Many Saints of Newark (Sep. 24) arrives after a one-year delay, taking viewers back to a teenage Tony Soprano's first encounters with the New Jersey Mafia. Actor Michael Gandolfini takes over the iconic role from his late father, James Gandolfini, who played Tony on the HBO series that ran from 1999 to 2007. 

The film will be released in theatres and on HBO Max the same day, with creator David Chase telling Deadline that he "would never have made it" had he known the film would have a hybrid release.

In a slightly unusual approach during the pandemic, the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die (Oct. 8), will have a traditional theatrical release. It's the longest Bond film in the franchise's history, clocking in at two hours and 43 minutes, and Daniel Craig's last as 007.