Yesterday was a bit of a crazy day, as far as the film industry goes. Obviously, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc all across the world, leaving thousands sick and many dead. However, as far as the entertainment industry is concerned, the effect of the pandemic was truly felt yesterday, with the delays of “F9,” “A Quiet Place 2,” “The Lovebirds,” “Antlers,” “Mulan,” and more. Now, the director of the latter film is hoping the title character’s spirit will inspire those around the world to keep fighting the spread of the illness.
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The dealy of “Mulan” might be the most shocking of all of yesterday’s announcements. “F9” delayed a full year, which is bold. “A Quiet Place 2” was supposed to hit theaters next week, meaning the marketing has already been launched, for the most part. But “Mulan,” combined with the closure of Disney’s theme parks in California, Florida, and Paris, show the Mouse House might be the King of the entertainment world, but it’s not immune to something as widespread as COVID-19.
In a social media post, director Niki Caro, who helmed the $200 million “Mulan” live-action remake, discussed her sadness about delaying the film, but she hopes that the character will inspire even in the film’s absence.
“Our hearts are with everyone the world over who is affected by this virus, and we hope that Mulan’s fighting spirit will continue to inspire those who are working hard to keep us all safe,” she wrote.
READ MORE: ‘Mulan,’ ‘Antlers’ &, Yes, ‘New Mutants’ Pushed Due To Coronavirus Concerns
As of now, there’s no new release date for “Mulan.” Unfortunately for Disney, the release of “Mulan” isn’t like many other typical blockbusters. So much of the potential money that the film will earn is based on how well it does in Asia, particularly in China. And though the spread of COVID-19 might be contained more efficiently in places like the US and Europe, China has been hit hardest by the illness and the entire country has been essentially shut down since January. So, while MGM is confident that the new ‘Bond’ film can launch in November, we could be looking at a fairly long wait for “Mulan.”
But hey, if you want to check out Disney’s animated film of the same name, “Mulan” is available now on the company’s streaming service.
