Blockbuster Film Starring Saint John Native Coming To Disney+
SAINT JOHN – The long-delayed Disney film Mulan starring an actor originally from Saint John will skip theatres in North America and be released September 4 on streaming service Disney+.
The film was supposed to be released on March 27 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was first postponed to July 24, then postponed again to August 21 until it was removed from the release calendar at the end of July.
“To be honest, I was quite surprised when they announced that Mulan would stream on Disney+. However, given the tenacity and uncertainty of the pandemic, it makes sense that they would choose to set a precedent making this the first major blockbuster to premiere on a streaming platform,” said Nelson Lee, who plays The Chancellor in Mulan.
Huddle published a feature interview with Lee in July.
RELATED: Actor Nelson Lee Talks Stargirl, Mulan, And Growing Up In Saint John
The film shot in New Zealand and China on a $300 million budget was a life-changing experience for Lee. Its world premiere on March 9 in Los Angeles was the entertainment industry’s last major red-carpet event before U.S. movie theatres’ continent-wide shutdown on March 16.
“While I wish that this film could be experienced in the manner in which it was intended to be in theaters, I am excited that people will finally be able to watch this film in the safety of their own homes. We all could do with a bit of beauty during these difficult times.”
Mulan will cost $29.99 to rent, on top of the $8.99 monthly subscriber fee. The $29.99 charge serves as a purchase and Disney+ subscribers can continue to access the film for as long as they subscribe to the streaming service.
The film will be released theatrically in places that do not have access to Disney+.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been an enormous blow to the entertainment industry with the studios choosing to move many of their blockbuster films into 2021 and face a crowded release schedule.
If Walt Disney Studios can demonstrate blockbuster films like Mulan can make a sizable profit released first on streaming services, it could permanently alter the entire business model of the entertainment industry.