TV and film productions to shut down temporarily and delaying most releases, of which many have ended up on VOD and/or streaming services.
Disney has already opted for moving some films to its own streaming platform, Disney+, instead of pushing their release dates to next year and risking overloading their schedule (and the audience getting tired of Disney content), such as will have to pay $30 to watch it.
The live-action trend continues at Disney, and while not all have been the success the studio expected, the audience is still interested in them, and Mulan being one of the most beloved animated films by Disney definitely helps boost interest in the live-action version. In a coronavirus-free world, Mulan would have been one of the biggest and strongest releases cinemas would have seen this year, one that would have been very generous in the box-office and thus to cinemas – but now theaters around the world will have to go on without Mulan, and if this move to Disney+ works well, this could prompt other studios to move some of their biggest titles to VOD or streaming too, and that would put cinemas at risk.
The coronavirus lockdowns have already impacted cinemas, with some of them unsure about releasing many films through them early on, and even though cinemas are now somewhat closer to reopening (with special, safety measures), they have lost some of their power and relevance. Disney is setting an example with one of its most important releases of the year being moved to Disney+, and this could be an example to follow for other studios.
If Mulan on Disney+ is a success and other studios move some of their biggest titles to VOD and/or streaming, it will be a lot harder for cinemas to get back to normal or even reopen. Mulan on Disney+ has its pros and cons, but ultimately, it will be a big experiment not only for Disney but the film industry in general, and one that can deeply affect cinemas if it all goes well for the Mouse House.
