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'Mulan' delayed by coronavirus as stars walk the red carpet for the European premiere

Tom Butler
·Editor, Yahoo Entertainment UK
·2-min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Niki Caro (L) and Yifei Liu attend the European Premiere of Disney's "MULAN" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on March 12, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Disney)
Niki Caro (L) and Yifei Liu attend the European Premiere of Disney's Mulan at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on March 12, 2020. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Disney)

Disney has pushed back the release of its blockbuster remake Mulan, as the film industry struggles to adjust to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The film had been set to arrive in UK cinemas on 27 March and its stars gathered in London on Thursday evening for a scaled back European premiere. A hand sanitation station was set up outside of the event for guests to use before entering the cinema,

However, shortly after the cast posed for pictures on the red carpet, Disney announced the film – a remake of the 1998 animated classic – had been delayed.

X-Men spin-off The New Mutants and Scott Cooper’s horror film Antlers were also pushed back, and Disney said it was aiming for a 2020 release date for all three films.

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Mulan's director, Niki Caro, addressed the delay on Instagram.

She said: "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.

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"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."

Actors, from left to right, Ron Yuan, Director Niki Caro, Yifei Liu, Jason Scott Lee and Yoson An, pose for photographers upon arrival at the European Premiere of 'Mulan' at a central London cinema, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Actors, from left to right, Ron Yuan, Director Niki Caro, Yifei Liu, Jason Scott Lee and Yoson An, pose for photographers upon arrival at the European Premiere of 'Mulan' at a central London cinema, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Mulan's postponement is far from the first high-profile cinematic casualty of coronavirus.

James Bond film No Time To Die, one of the year's biggest releases, has been pushed back from April to November while A Quiet Place Part II and Fast & Furious 9 have also been delayed.