After months of delays due to coronavirus, Disney has decided to release the highly anticipated live-action Mulan on streaming in September, per THR.
Unlike other Disney+ titles, which are available to users who pay for a monthly or annual subscription, Mulan will need to be purchased for $29.99. The "premiere access" price is higher than any single movie ticket in the U.S. but a bargain for families who would have needed several tickets.
The news was shared on a Disney earnings call Tuesday afternoon and described as a "pandemic anomaly" that will not serve as precedent for future theatrical releases. Mulan will still release theatrically where it can, but streaming will be available in areas where it is not yet safe to open movie theaters. Mulan was originally scheduled to hit theaters on March 27, but movie theater closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pushed it back.
“Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, we’ve continued to build on the incredible success of Disney+ as we grow our global direct-to-consumer businesses,” Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek said in a statement. “The global reach of our full portfolio of direct-to-consumer services now exceeds an astounding 100 million paid subscriptions — a significant milestone and a reaffirmation of our DTC strategy, which we view as key to the future growth of our company.”
Mulan hits Disney+ on Sept. 24.
