Breaking: Disney Will Close All Of Its Theme Parks, Pulls ‘Mulan’ Release (Updated)
The Walt Disney Company is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak on all fronts. It announced this evening that all Disney theme parks will be closed by this weekend. That includes Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California, and all six Disney parks in its Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida.
All of its parks will remain closed until at least the end of March.
According to The New York Times, which has a report on the park closures, “Disney also operates roughly 30 hotels at the Florida resort, near Orlando. Those properties will remain open ‘until further notice,’ the company said. The adjoining Disney Springs shopping and dining area will also remain open.”
Disneyland Paris, where a park maintenance worker has tested positive for coronavirus, will also close this weekend. Disney’s four theme parks in Asia are already closed and will remain closed until at least the end of March.
On the film side, Disney has pulled all of its upcoming theatrical releases, including its big-budget live-action remake of the animated feature Mulan. Other upcoming releases that have been postponed are New Mutants and Antlers.
Niki Caro, the director of Mulan, posted a message on her Instagram account about the postponement of the film, which had been scheduled for U.S. release on March 27:
Dear Mulan Fans,
Making this film has been one of the most satisfying and exhilarating experiences of my entire career, and I’ve been so fortunate to be on this journey with some of the best cast and crew in the business – people who truly embody the attributes of Loyal, Brave, and True. We are so excited to share this film with the world, but given the current ever-shifting circumstances we are all experiencing, unfortunately, we have to postpone the worldwide release of MULAN for now. 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 so hard to keep us all safe. Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and support, and I can’t wait for the day where we will all get to experience this tale of a girl warrior who became a legend together
With love,
Niki Caro
UPDATE (3/13/2020, 3:30pm ET): The Walt Disney Company is suspending production on all its live-action films currently in pre-production or production, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter. These films include:
- The Little Mermaid live-action remake
- Peter Pan & Wendy
- Shrunk, sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
- Home Alone
- Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel
- Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley
- Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings (Marvel)
UPDATE (3/14/2020, 12:15am ET): The Walt Disney Company announced tonight that Frozen 2 will begin streaming on the Disney+ service in the U.S. this Sunday, March 15. That’s less than four months after it came out in theaters, and three months ahead of its previously scheduled streaming launch date.
The company’s new CEO, Bob Chapek, said in a statement: “Frozen 2 has captivated audiences around the world through its powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant during this time, and we are pleased to be able to share this heartwarming story early with our Disney+ subscribers to enjoy at home on any device.”
Internationally, Frozen 2 will be available on Disney+ in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand on Tuesday, March 17. In the U.S., the film will initially be available in high definition, with Ultra HD video playback available to all subscribers on Tuesday, March 17.
