Coronavirus

'Mulan' Was Set to be a Blockbuster in China, Then Came the Coronavirus

The outbreak has forced tens of thousands of Chinese movie theaters to close. It's not clear if multiplexes will be open in time for the premiere.

This photo taken on February 16, 2020 shows two workers wearing face masks manning a promotional stand for the Disney move “Mulan” in an almost empty shopping mall in Beijing. – Disney was hoping its new film Mulan — based on the tale of a legendary Chinese warrior — would be a huge hit with Chinese audiences. Now the US entertainment giant, which will also face losses from closing its Disneyland parks in China and Hong Kong in response to the coronavirus outbreak, can’t even be sure when the film will open. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) / TO GO WITH China-health-virus-cinema-entertainment,FOCUS by Helen Roxburgh and Danni Zhu (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

The live-action remake of "Mulan" — the first major Disney movie featuring an all-Asian cast — was set to be a blockbuster event in China, home to the second largest market for the global film industry.

But the rapid spread of the coronavirus across mainland China could upend those expectations, according to NBC News.

The outbreak has forced Chinese officials to close tens of thousands of movie theaters, scuttling the release of high-profile American imports such as "Jojo Rabbit" and "Dolittle." It was not clear if multiplexes would be open in time for the late March worldwide premiere of "Mulan."

The potential postponement of the film's Chinese release could deal yet another blow to the country's movie box office, a key pillar of its entertainment economy. It could also sting Disney, which relies on overseas ticket revenues to bolster its bottom line.

Read more at NBC News.com.

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