NEW YORK — Paramount Pictures on Monday halted production on the seventh “Mission: Impossible” film due to the new virus, as Hollywood began to more drastically adapt to the growing global outbreak.
“Mission: Impossible 7" had been scheduled to shoot for three weeks in Venice. More than 200 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Italy, the largest number outside Asia. While most of those cases are in the
In a statement, Paramount cited the Venetian government's halting of public gatherings, and said it was
Paramount also on Monday postponed the Chinese release of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” which had been set for Friday. Cinemas in China have been shuttered due to the outbreak, closing down the world's second largest box-office market.
At stake is potentially hundreds of millions in ticket sales in China and elsewhere. Media stocks were among those that tumbled Monday on Wall Street as fears increased of the virus' effect on the global economy.
Last week, the James Bond film “No Time to Die”
The Walt Disney Co.'s anticipated live-action “Mulan” remake is also soon to open worldwide, with a particular focus on China. It's due to open there on March 27.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press