The release of Walt Disney Co's epic action movie "Mulan" and Universal Pictures' ninth "Fast and Furious" film were postponed on Thursday as Hollywood scrambled to adjust to the worldwide spread of coronavirus.

Disney held a red-carpet premiere on Monday to promote "Mulan" and said at the time that the film would be released in the United States as planned on March 27.

But on Thursday, as U.S. authorities urged against large gatherings and took other steps to stop the coronavirus spread, Disney said it had decided "out of an abundance of caution" to postpone the debut of "Mulan" as well as April releases "The New Mutants" and "Antlers."

"We truly believe in the moviegoing experience, and we are looking at new potential 2020 release dates to be announced at a later date," a Disney spokesperson said.

Due to the epidemic, the European premiere of "Mulan" in London's Leicester Square was scaled down "in an abundance of caution," with no media line-up or red carpet, organizers announced just hours in advance of the Thursday night event.

Disney held its Hollywood premiere on Monday for the action epic, pushing ahead with the rollout for what is expected to rank as one of the company's biggest hits of the year.

"F9," the new "Fast and Furious" movie from Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, was scheduled to debut May 22. Its release was delayed by nearly a year to April 2, 2021.

"Mulan" and "F9" were expected to rank among the biggest box-office hits in the coming months but were among several disruptions to global entertainment caused by coronavirus.

Also on Thursday, Paramount Pictures, a unit of ViacomCBS Inc, indefinitely delayed the release of thriller "A Quiet Place Part II," which was due to start its international rollout on March 18. 

And it postponed romantic comedy "The Lovebirds," originally set for April 3.

"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," the "Quiet Place" director John Krasinski said in a post on his Instagram account.

"As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie … I'm gonna wait to release the film till we CAN all see it together!," Krasinski added. He did not say when the film would be released.

The decisions followed the postponement last week of the James Bond movie "No Time to Die" to November from April, and a delay for "Peter Rabbit 2" to August from March 27.

Separately, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland postponed its induction ceremony scheduled for May 2 to an unspecified future date. 

That followed the cancellation of the Coachella music festival, South by Southwest and other large entertainment gatherings.

The novel coronavirus has shut down movie theaters in China – Hollywood's biggest overseas market, as well as in Italy and many other nations.

U.S. movie theaters remained open as of Thursday. But an industry source said operators may close larger theaters in some areas depending on advice from local authorities. 

Ohio on Thursday banned crowds of more than 100 people. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 250 through the end of the month.

Movie theaters were exempted, but even if they stay open, their schedules would have to be rearranged.

A ban on travel from Europe to the U.S. announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday is seen likely to curtail red carpets and other promotional events for movies and stars.

A planned three-week shoot in Venice, Italy, for Tom Cruise's new "Mission: Impossible" film was postponed earlier due to the outbreak.

It is expected that the travel bans of different regions and countries will lead to more disruptions to filming new movies and TV shows worldwide.

(With input from Reuters)

(Cover image by Yin Yating)