Disney has postponed the theatrical release of “Mulan” amid growing concerns over coronavirus.
The studio has also removed “The New Mutants” and “Antlers” from its slate. All three movies have been delayed indefinitely as Disney looks for new release dates.
“Mulan” was slated to debut in North America on March 27, while “The New Mutants,” the beleaguered superhero adventure from Fox, was scheduled for April 3. Searchlight’s “Antlers,” a sci-fi horror film produced by Guillermo Del Toro, was expected to hit theaters April 17.
For now, Disney’s “Black Widow” is still expected to hit theaters May 1. Since so many big movies are vacating their release dates, Universal’s “Trolls: World Tour” is the only film from a major Hollywood studio that’s still opening until May. But that could change if movie theaters are forced to close.
“Mulan” is the latest high-profile tentpole to shift its release date as Hollywood grapples with the novel virus that’s rapidly spread across the world. On Thursday, Universal pushed “Fast 9” back a year, while Paramount indefinitely shelved “A Quiet Place 2.” Earlier in the month, James Bond entry “No Time to Die” was delayed from April until November.
Given the amount of movies that have already been pulled from multiplexes, it seems inevitable that North American movie theater chains will eventually shutter. But for now, cineplexes in the U.S. and Canada remain open. Closing theaters and delaying would-be blockbusters are one of the numerous factors stemming from coronavirus that look to have a serious impact on the entertainment industry.
More to come…