Disney Delays Release of Its Blockbuster Movies
by EG
Disney continues to shift the release schedule for its upcoming blockbuster movies amid the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. The studio has pushed back the release of its biggest upcoming movies, including the long-delayed sequels to Avatar, by a year. The delay also affects the Star Wars franchise. The live-action remake of Mulan, which had originally been scheduled to hit theaters in March, has been pulled off the schedule altogether. Read on for details.
Disney has taken Mulan off the theatrical release calendar amid the ongoing pandemic and a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S.
The adventure epic, directed by Niki Caro, had been set to hit theaters on Aug. 21. Presently, however, the vast majority of cinemas in the U.S. remain closed. Mulan had previously been scheduled to open in late March and then was pushed to July 24.
Disney didn't provide further comment regarding Mulan's fate beyond saying that the live-action adventure epic was being undated. While the company has been a champion of the theatrical experience, it is also investing heavily in its new streaming service, Disney+.
“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, and 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," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.
The Mulan news is a blow for theater owners, who were counting on playing both that film and Christopher Nolan's Tenet upon reopening. Earlier this week, Warner Bros. took Tenet off its Aug. 12 release date and said the film will get a staggered release globally, versus waiting for all markets to reopen.
Mulan was among numerous changes made to Disney's release calendar. All currently scheduled Avatar and Star Wars films are being delayed by a year. Avatar 2 moves from Dec. 17, 2021, to Dec. 16, 2022; Avatar 3 moves from Dec. 22, 2023, to Dec. 20, 2024; Avatar 4 from Dec. 19, 2025, to Dec. 18, 2026; and Avatar 5 from Dec. 17, 2027, to Dec. 22, 2028.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
Are you ready to go back to the movie theater? Let us know in the comments below.