Coronavirus update: F9, Disney's Mulan, Mission Impossible hit with delays

The global coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the entertainment industry across the world. In Hollywood, the upcoming James Bond film, No Time To Die, has already been shifted to November, from its earlier international release of April. 

News is also coming in that the big Hollywood franchise, F9 (Fast and Furious) is set to postpone the film to next year. The film is pushing its release from 22 May to 2 April 2021. The production studio, Universal Production, made the official announcement on Thursday. 

Disney, the other big studio, has also pushed its upcoming live-action film, Mulan, indefinitely. The film, a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film, was expected to be one of Disney's big releases in China. The country has been one of the worst-affected regions by the pandemic. 

Variety.com reported that Paramount Pictures have now revealed plans to delay the shoot for Tom Cruise's blockbuster franchise, Mission Impossible. The crew was expected to begin shooting for the next installment of the franchise in Venice, Italy. However, the country is under lockdown following more than 150 confirmed cases of the viral infection. 

Variety.com quoted a statement from Paramount Pictures saying, "Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice, the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for Mission: Impossible 7." 

Another Paramount production, A Quiet Place II, has also been postponed in view of the pandemic. A statement from the production house to CNN read, "After much consideration, and in light of the ongoing and developing situation concerning coronavirus and restrictions on global travel and public gatherings, Paramount Pictures will be moving the worldwide release of A Quiet Place II." No new release date has yet been announced.