The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to close their doors to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Major studios have taken a hard hit as they have been forced to reschedule their slate due to movie theater closures. However, major studios like Disney have opted to release some of their films on digital and their streaming platforms just weeks after their theatrical release. But they will be taking a different approach with Artemis Fowl, by releasing it directly on Disney+.
Artemis Fowl was initially scheduled to be released this May. But in response to the current pandemic, Walt Disney Studios announced that it will debut its new live-action feature film Artemis Fowl exclusively on Disney+. The release date will be announced soon.
“With audiences largely unable to attend theatres in the current environment, we are thrilled to offer the premiere of Artemis Fowl on Disney+,” said Ricky Strauss, President, Content & Marketing, Disney+. “Director Kenneth Branagh and his spectacular cast take viewers right into the vibrant, fantasy world of the beloved book, which fans have been waiting to see brought to life onscreen for years. It’s great family entertainment that is the perfect addition to Disney+’s summer lineup.”
In this fantastical, spellbinding adventure, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw), a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, embarks on a journey to find his father (Colin Farrell), who has mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his loyal protector Butler (Nonso Anozie), Artemis sets out to find him, and in doing so, uncovers an ancient, underground civilization—the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Deducing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to the secretive, reclusive fairy world, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan—so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies.
Based on the popular Eoin Colfer book series, the trailers hinted at an amalgamation of high stakes heists with fantastical elements, and the young boy in search of his missing father at the center of it all. However, fans of the book series gave these trailers a lukewarm reception as they were quick to point out the numerous changes and character deviations.
So, the new schedule change made sense for Disney as they can soften a box office disappointment.
Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter says Disney is rescheduling Mulan, starring Liu Yifei, to hit theaters later in the Fall. The big-budget adaption of the Disney animated classic of the same name was originally scheduled for a release March 27 release, is now set to hit theaters on July 24. The date was reserved for Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s Jungle Cruise, but now the film based on the popular Disneyland ride of the same name is being pushed back a full year to July 30, 2021.
As for Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, that gets moved all the way to November 6. The November release was originally for another Marvel film, The Eternals, starring Angelina Jolie. Now the Chloé Zhao-directed film will hit theaters on February 12, 2021. That change will also have an effect on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, starring Simi Liu. The film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, was supposed to be released in February 2021 to help commemorate Chinese New Year. However, with the domino effect of these release date changes, the film will now open in theaters on May 7, 2021.
