The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 1 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on September 18, 2020.
By: Adam Hartzer ’23
Managing Editor | Layout Editor
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have spent their additional free time on streaming platforms, such as Netflix and Disney+. With movie theaters still closed in several states, many production companies have decided to postpone the premiere of new movies until it is safe for larger audiences to return to the theaters.
However, for Disney, the company has released several films to subscribers of its streaming platform, Disney+, throughout the pandemic. After its short-lived theatrical release on March 3, Disney Pixar’s Onward was quickly adapted to Disney+ so users could still enjoy the film during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Similar to Onward, Disney’s live-action adaptation of Mulan was scheduled to hit theaters on March 27. Disney quickly rescheduled the film to be released later in the summer on July 24. As the pandemic continued to disrupt normalcy through the summer, Disney reshuffled its movie calendar through the next two years, essentially pushing back all of its films’ premiere dates. The film was temporarily rescheduled with a release date of August 21; however, it was announced on July 23 that it would be delayed further. Finally, on August 4, Disney made the decision to cancel the film’s theatrical release and shift to an entirely virtual release on September 4 for a premium fee via Disney+.
Unlike Onward’s free release to Disney+ subscribers, Mulan costs $29.99 to view before it is released later in the year to all Disney+ users without a premium charge on December 4.
Rather than bringing the film directly to its Disney+ collection of other popular films and TV shows, the company is testing a new premium option to the streaming platform, according to Bob Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
“We’re trying to establish a new premiere access window to capture that investment we got (in the film),” Chapek explained during the company’s third quarter earnings call on August 4.
Many speculate that the company is experimenting with alternative ways to generate revenue to compensate for the closure of its theme parks. According to CNBC, the company took a $3.5 billion hit to its operating income from parks being closed during the quarter.
In addition to Onward and Mulan’s release being adjusted, Disney shuffled the release calendar of many of its other films. In mid-March, Disney unexpectedly brought Frozen II to Disney+, four months ahead of schedule. Disney+ also saw the early release of the adapted film to the original Broadway production of Hamilton on July 3. Originally, the film was not planned to release until October 15, 2021.
The next upcoming film from The Walt Disney Company is scheduled for November 6 with the release of Marvel’s Black Widow. The film was originally scheduled to premiere on May 1. While many speculate it will soon receive a second delay, there is no official update to the film’s current release date from the company.
