Disney’s Mulan will be landing on Disney+ with a UK date and price now confirmed

Disney’s live action remake of the animated hit Mulan will be streaming on Disney+ rather than hitting cinemas in the UK, and the studio has now revealed the premium price that subscribers will be paying in order to access it.

At the start of the month, Disney revealed its intentions to bypass the cinematic release of the movie in the US, taking it directly to its recently launched streaming platform Disney+. A move that was met with a fair amount of head-scratching by cinemas across the region, the question was posed as to whether the same roll-out plans would apply to the UK.

Originally due to be released in cinemas in March this year, Mulan suffered a number of delays at the hands of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown measures taken across the world. The live-action remake will now be made available exclusively for Disney+ customers to buy for a premium price, on top of the monthly £5.99 subscription fee.

Disney confirmed that the film would be available for UK customers from September 4 for the additional price of £19.99. It follows the news that it will be made available to US customers from September 4 for a cost of $29.99.

It will also be made available via in-app purchasing on streaming services such as Apple TV, Google and Roku.

The move means viewers who buy Mulan will be able to stream the film multiple times and watch it on a number of devices where Disney+ is available, as long as they have an active subscription to the streaming service.

Disney’s live action Mulan remake is launching to Disney+, and the cinemas aren’t happy

The release of Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan on its own streaming platform Disney+ has been labelled as ‘frankly bewildering’ and strongly criticised by the body representing British Cinemas.

The announcement came this week that Mulan has finally confirmed its release date, having suffered a number of postponements owing to the lockdown measures taken around the world in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the temporary closure of cinemas. The live-action take on the animated film will now land on September 4th.

However, the film won’t be released in cinemas, but straight to Disney’s own streaming platform, Disney+ at the cost of a Premium Access fee for viewers. This means that those wanting to watch the movie will have to pay a cost of $29.99 (around £23) on top of their Disney+ subscription fee to do so.

While Disney’s boss, Bob Chapek has heralded the move as an achievement for the studio and fans, stating that Disney is “very pleased to bring Mulan to the consumer base who has been waiting for it,” and indicating that this form of release for major feature films will be a one-off for Mulan, the move has been strongly opposed by UK cinema owners who have reason to believe that the film will follow the same release format here.

The UK Cinema Association’s chief executive, Phil Clapp has said that any plans of Disney to do so will be a ‘step backwards rather than forwards for many.’

“With cinemas across the UK now continuing to re-open and welcome back their customers, the decision by Walt Disney Studios yesterday to put Mulan on their Disney+ service and not into cinemas will be seen by many as hugely disappointing and mistimed,” he said.

Disney’s Bob Chapek said the cost of Premium Access to view Mulan would vary in other countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Western Europe. But Disney has not confirmed its plans for the UK.

The Association’s Clapp said: “Rather than playing a great new family film in the best place possible to see it, the cinema theatre, audiences are instead being encouraged to stay home and pay a premium price to watch it.”

Although around 40 per cent of UK cinemas are reported to have reopened, many cinemagoers have not returned. Last weekend’s box office takings were just 3 per cent of the total on the same weekend last year. Many were optimistic that the release of the blockbuster film Mulan would bring them a much-needed customer boost following the lockdown measures.

Mulan, Star Wars and all four Avatar sequels delayed over Covid-19 pandemic

Disney has delayed the release of a trio of major films this year, citing the ‘global health crisis’ that has come out of the coronavirus pandemic. The live action re-make of Mulan – originally planned for a March release this year, but hoping to make an August launch – has now been postponed indefinitely.

“It’s become clear that nothing can be set in stone when it comes to how we release films during this global health crisis,” said a Disney representative. “Today that means pausing our release plans for Mulan as we assess how we can most effectively bring this film to audiences around the world.”

On top of this, the forthcoming Star Wars trilogy has been pushed back a year as a result of the uncertainty around the coronavirus outbreak. The first film in the new trio will now be release on December 22, 2023, instead of its original December 2022 date.

The first instalment of a four-part sequel to Avatar has also been pushed back to December 16, 2022. Avatar 3, 4, and 5 are due out on December 20, 2024, December 18, 2026, and December 22, 2028.

Avatar director, James Cameron released a statement regarding the set back, citing that delays were due to the pandemic. He revealed that “prior to COVID-19, everything was on track to bring you the first sequel in December 2021.

“Unfortunately, due to the impact that the pandemic has had on our schedule it is no longer possible for us to make that date.”

Mad Beauty lands exclusive Superdrug deal for its Disney’s Mulan beauty and lifestyle range

The health and beauty specialist, Mad Beauty is readying itself for the cinematic debut of Disney’s live action remake of Mulan with the launch of a new range of Mulan licensed beauty, bath and lifestyle products exclusively with Superdrug.

Ahead of the film’s March 27th UK release date, Mad Beauty has developed an extensive range, spanning pampering face masks, cherry-blossom make-up brushes, hair clips, bath fizzers and more.

The Disney Mulan range launched exclusively at Superdrug stores and online on Wednesday, February 26th.

The Disney Mulan Face Mask, Mulan Hair Clip Set, and Chinese cherry blossom Disney Mulan Bath Fizzers are joined by the Mulan Hairbrush set, and make-up brush set. The range also includes a Disney Mulan Lip Balm, Disney Mulan Bath Tea, Disney Mulan Bath and Body Set, and Disney Mulan Eyeshadow Palette.

Mad Beauty has had an ongoing partnership with Superdrug for the past three Christmas seasons. The new Disney licensed Mulan deal will see Mad Beauty extend its range into twice the number of Superdrug stores from this spring.

Trevor Cash, managing director at Mad Beauty, said: “We are very excited about this exclusive Mulan collection. Superdrug has been a valued partner of Mad Beauty’s for the last three Christmas seasons, so to have the opportunity to launch a full range on a FSU in twice as many stores as normal in spring is a fantastic bonus.

“We are very proud of the beautiful collection developed together to coincide with the launch of Mulan movie launch and would like to thank Superdrug and Disney for their support.” 

Disney reveals toys and consumer products line up for both Mulan and Onward

In a double whammy for the studio, Disney has revealed the consumer products portfolio for not one but two of its upcoming blockbuster movies, detailing the toy lines and licensed products line-up for both Mulan and its new animated feature film, Onward.

Hasbro, Mattel, and Funko join the ranks of a heaving portfolio of product partners across the two movies, both slated for a cinematic release this March. The live action remake of Mulan will land on March 27th this year, while Onward will debut on March 6th.

Disney has pulled out all of the stops to deliver a consumer product programme that ticks all of the boxes this year, with ranges spanning some of the biggest names in toys and collectables, from Hasbro, Mattel, and Funko, to Rubie’s, Half Moon Bay, and more.

The Mulan programme kicks off with fashion dolls from Hasbro, Pop! Vinyl figures from Funko, and Disney Store exclusives including an enamel pin set and a Mulan dress up set. Centum Books has been tapped for a movie novelisation, while Rubie’s is delivering on the Deluxe Mulan Costume.

Pandora is releasing a line of licensed charms, while Half Moon Bay has mugs, travel mugs, and dishes covered. Bonnier is releasing storybooks, while there is still plenty more in the line-up to be discovered.

Meanwhile, Mattel well and truly has the Onward license on lock down with an expansive line up that includes role-play items such as the Onward Wizard Staff, as well as blind bag collectables, a core figure assortment, a mini vehicle assortment, feature plush, and a line up of soft toys of each of the film’s main characters.

The Disney Store has its obligatory line-up of gifts and accessory exclusives, including enamel pins, diaries, figurines, mugs and more, while Bonnier is delivering on the activity books, Phidal has a busy book and a jigsaw puzzle, and Panini completes the initial line-up with an Onward Sticker Collection.

Check out the trailers for both Mulan and Onward below: