The global spread of COVID-19 has had a big impact on the film industry, with an ever-growing number of big movies having their release dates pushed back as cinemas across the world remain closed.
Disney is no exception, having last week announced a reshuffle of its theatrical release schedule which sees Mulan and Black Widow's releases pushed back from March to July and May to November respectively.
It has even taken one film, Artemis Fowl, out of the cinematic release schedule altogether and decided that instead of pushing back its May 29 release date it will move the film directly onto its streaming service Disney+.
The company's former CEO and now chairman Bob Iger has told Barrons that Disney will need to keep responding to the impact of the coronavirus on a long-term basis and that this could mean other films being re-routed to Disney+ in future instead of having a theatrical release.
"In terms of movies going ahead after Artemis, there may be a few more that we end up putting directly onto Disney+, but for the most part a lot of the big tentpole Disney films, we'll simply wait for slots," he said. "In some cases we've announced new ones already, but later on in the calendar."
Adding that the launch of Disney+ across Europe has been "going great", Iger revealed that he doesn't think "we're ever going to see a return to business as usual" after the pandemic is over.
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"I can't speak for all companies, but Disney will take this opportunity to look for ways to run our businesses more efficiently when we come back," he said.
Related: Artemis Fowl fans have a major complaint about new trailer
Iger added that one such change could be the introduction of "more scrutiny" when Disney's theme parks and cruise lines re-open, such as temperature screening of all visitors.
There is not yet any date announced for Artemis Fowl's arrival on Disney+. The fantasy adventure was directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Ferdia Shaw as 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl alongside Dame Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Colin Farrell and Miranda Raison.
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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
