The excitement about having movies start to open again this July is dissipating rapidly in the face of returning Coronavirus case levels and worries about the risk of sitting in cinemas. Especially in the States, where the big studios are focusing their concerns. And the latest company to shift a film is Disney, which has decided to move the live-action Mulan back to 21 August.
Following on from the delay for Tenet (which recently shifted to 12 August), other movies are starting to fall from their dates, including Unhinged, the Russell Crowe-starring road rage thriller that had been seen as the trial balloon for the return of wider movies. That is still targeting July, but 31 July, at least for now.
Mulan's move is not a shock, but still sad to see, but don't expect it to be farmed out to Disney+. "While the pandemic has changed our release plans for Mulan and we will continue to be flexible as conditions require, it has not changed our belief in the power of this film and its message of hope and perseverance," Disney Studios Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Alan Horn said in a statement. "Director Niki Caro and our cast and crew have created a beautiful, epic, and moving film that is everything the cinematic experience should be, and that’s where we believe it belongs – on the world stage and the big screen for audiences around the globe to enjoy together." The big question is still when. Stay tuned, and check out our guide to UK cinemas reopening right here.