Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Set for July Release; ‘Black Widow’ to November

(Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co. now plans to release its live-action remake of “Mulan,” one of the biggest potential blockbusters delayed by the coronavirus outbreak, on July 24.

The rescheduled date for “Mulan,” a new version of the 1998 animated film about a female warrior in ancient China, will bump the Dwayne Johnson movie “Jungle Cruise” to July 30, 2021. “Mulan” had been set for a March 27 debut this year.

“Black Widow” -- another highly anticipated film, starring Scarlett Johansson as the superhero -- moves to Nov. 6 from May 1. The November slot had been set for another Marvel film, “The Eternals,” which now will be released Feb. 12.

Disney and other Hollywood studios have had to scramble to adjust their release schedules as the coronavirus shut theaters around the world. Movie release dates are often picked years in advance to take into consideration school holidays and other pictures that could be competition. The virus has wreaked havoc on their planning.

Other films may also be delayed because production has ground to a halt as workers in California and other locales have been told to stay at home.

While even the new dates could be changed, Disney has rescheduled or postponed a dozen other films. “West Side Story,” Steven Spielberg’s remake of the Broadway classic, remains in its current Dec. 18 date.

“Artemis Fowl,” about a 12-year-old criminal mastermind, will no longer be released in theaters in May and will go straight to the company’s Disney+ streaming service. Other movies have gone directly or almost directly to video during the crisis, but studios are holding out for theatrical revenue from their splashiest releases.

Rival Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal said Friday it is delaying the release of thriller “Candyman” to Sept. 25 from June 12.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.