The coronavirus has slowly begun to work its way into Hollywood, affecting both filming and release dates. In an 11th hour move, the upcoming release of “A Quiet Place Part II” has been delayed.
In an Instagram announcement on Thursday, actor John Krasinski, who also directed the movie, said that he wants fans to be able to enjoy the movie together.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together. Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that,” he wrote. “As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie… I’m gonna wait to release the film til we CAN all see it together! See you soon!”
Paramount Pictures confirmed Krasinski’s revelation in a statement, though the studio did not say when fans could hope to watch the movie.
“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 Part II,” said the studio. “We believe in and support the theatrical experience, and we look forward to bringing this film to audiences this year once we have a better understanding of the impact of this pandemic on the global theatrical marketplace.”
“A Quiet Place Part II” was set to go nationwide on March 20. It is also far from the only movie affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
From The Hollywood Reporter (THR):
A Quiet Place Part II is the second Hollywood spring event movie to move because of the virus, after MGM and United Artists’ James Bond installment No Time to Die, which has been pushed back from early April to November. In recent days, Sony also decided to delay the release of family offering Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway after Pixar/Disney’s Onward underperformed.
While no theaters are yet closed in the U.S. because of the coronavirus, there’s growing concern that some cinemas could go dark in areas where cases of COVID-19 are proliferating, or where business has slowed. That’s in addition to the ongoing blackout on moviegoing in China, the quarantine of the entire population of Italy and cinema closures in South Korea and France.
The sequel to “Mission: Impossible” also had to halt filming while in Italy.
Beyond Hollywood, the coronavirus has now infected almost every major public industry, including sports. After the NBA suspended its season after a player tested positive for coronavirus, the Big 10 announced that it would be canceling championship tournaments, putting the much-beloved “March Madness” in doubt.
“The Big Ten Conference announced today that it will be canceling the remainder of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, effective immediately,” the league said in a statement, as reported by The Daily Wire’s Emily Zanotti. “The Big Ten Conference will use this time to work with the appropriate medical experts and institutional leadership to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.”