Well, it’s not like the everyday Russian is looking to go to the movie theater anytime soon, but whatever. There’s a new report that says Disney, along with other Hollywood bigwigs are refusing to open their biggest films in Russia. Here’s what you need to know.
The Walt Disney Company announced it’s working with its NGO partners to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees. For now, Disney is not releasing its theatrical films in Russia — starting with the Pixar animated film Turning Red.
Disney Is Refusing To Open New Releases In Russia In Protest Of The Ongoing War In Ukraine
Disney’s intentions and plans for the future were featured in their official announcement. “Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming ‘Turning Red’ from Pixar,” a company spokesperson said in a statement Monday.
“We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees.”
“Turning Red” stars Rosalie Chiang as a 13-year-old whose family is cursed to randomly transform into a giant red panda whenever she feels strong emotions. It comes out on Disney+ in the U.S. on March 11.
Warner Bros has even gone as far as to pause The Batman and Morbius from releasing within the country despite prior arrangements.
“Given the ongoing military action in Ukraine and the resulting uncertainty and humanitarian crisis unfolding in that region, we will be pausing our planned theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming release of Morbius. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted and hope this crisis will be resolved quickly,” a spokesperson for Sony told the press.
In the meantime, drop us a line with your thoughts about this story in our comments section. And don’t forget that the Daily Soap Dish is your one-stop for all of the latest news and updates on your favorite celebrities. We’ve also got the most recent spoilers for your favorite reality and daytime television shows. Come back and say hi!