- Title: 'Mulan,' 'Fast and Furious' delayed as Hollywood adapts to coronavirus
- Date: 13th March 2020
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF YIFEI LIU WHO PLAYS 'MULAN' ON CARPET POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) YIFEI LIU, WHO PLAYS "MULAN", ON IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON FILM, SAYING: "I think this is out of our hands. What I what I wanted to say is I'm so happy that the movie is finally coming out and I think people are going to love it." "MULAN" DIRECTOR NIKI CARO ON RED CARPET POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) "MULAN" DIRECTOR NIKI CARO, ON IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON FILM, SAYING: "I feel for everybody, but I know that when we do have the opportunity to show this film in China, it's going to be a great celebration. And I so look forward to the day when I can bring it home." DONNIE YEN WHO PLAYS "COMMANDER TUNG" ON RED CARPET WITH HIS FAMILY (SOUNDBITE) (English) DONNIE YEN, WHO PLAYS "COMMANDER TUNG", ON PROMOTING "MULAN" AMID THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK, SAYING: "The studio is very sensitive and they respect our choices as well and I don't think they are encouraging anyone to feel out of their safety zone. So, we are very careful, I think." JET LI, WHO PLAYS "EMPEROR" POSING FOR PHOTOS ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) JET LI, WHO PLAYS "EMPEROR," SAYING: "Now it's a quite difficult time for everybody in the world. You know, we need to work together to face it. But one day this will pass and it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that we make the movie and we should try to share it with a world audience, young, be brave, be true to yourself."" "MULAN" PRODUCERS CHRIS BENDER AND JAKE WEINER ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) "MULAN" PRODUCER CHRIS BENDER, ON IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON "MULAN" BOX OFFICE, SAYING: "Listen, it is an unprecedented situation. We can only hope that everyone stays healthy. This film is made for a global audience, we want everybody to see it but it is hard to know what is going to happen tomorrow let alone a week from now." MEDIA ON RED CARPET AT LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
- Embargoed: 27th March 2020 00:28
- Keywords: COVID19 Disney Mulan coronavirus dates postponed release
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA004C4R10LP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The release of Walt Disney Co's epic action movie "Mulan" and Universal Pictures' ninth "Fast and Furious" film were postponed on Thursday (March 12) as Hollywood scrambled to adjust to the worldwide spread of coronavirus.
Disney had held a red-carpet premiere on Monday to promote "Mulan" and said at the time that the film would be released in the United States as planned on March 27.
But on Thursday, as U.S. authorities urged against large gatherings and took other steps to stop coronavirus spread, Disney said it had decided "out of an abundance of caution" to postpone the debut of "Mulan" as well as April releases "The New Mutants" and "Antlers."
"We truly believe in the movie going experience, and we are looking at new potential 2020 release dates to be announced at a later date," a Disney spokesperson said.
"F9," the new "Fast and Furious" movie from Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, was scheduled to debut May 22. Its release was delayed by nearly a year to April 2, 2021.
"Mulan" and "F9" were expected to rank among the biggest box-office hits in the coming months but were among several disruptions to global entertainment caused by coronavirus.
The virus has closed movie theaters in China, Italy and many other nations, while a ban on travel from Europe to the United States announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday is seen likely to curtail red carpets and other promotional events for movies and stars.
U.S. movie theaters remained open as of Thursday. But an industry source said operators may close larger theaters in some areas depending on advice from local authorities.
Ohio on Thursday banned crowds of more than 100 people. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 250 through the end of the month.
Movie theaters were exempted, but even if they stay open, their schedules would have to be rearranged.
Also on Thursday, Paramount Pictures, a unit of ViacomCBS Inc, indefinitely delayed the release of thriller "A Quiet Place Part II," which was due to start its international rollout on March 18. And it postponed romantic comedy "The Lovebirds," originally set for April 3.
"Due to the ever-changing circumstances of what's going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that," the "Quiet Place" director John Krasinski said in a post on his Instagram account.
The decisions followed the postponement last week of the James Bond movie "No Time to Die" to November from April, and a delay for "Peter Rabbit 2" to August from March 27.
Separately, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland postponed its induction ceremony scheduled for May 2 to an unspecified future date. That followed the cancellation of the Coachella music festival, South by Southwest and other large entertainment gatherings.
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