A woman, wearing a facemask amid concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, waits to cross the street in front of a poster for the Disney film "Mulan" in Vientiane, Laos, on March 11, 2020. (MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP)

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.

Mulan and Fast & Furious 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

Disney had 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.

“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.

"We are so excited to share this film with the world, but given the current ever-shifting circumstances we are all experiencing, unfortunately, we have to postpone the worldwide release of Mulan for now," director Niki Caro wrote in a statement on the film's official Twitter page on Thursday.

But on Thursday, as US authorities urged against large gatherings and took other steps to stop 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.

"Our hearts are with everyone the world over who is affected by this virus, and we hope that Mulan's fighting spirit will continue to inspire those who are working so hard to keep us all safe," she said.

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"Making this film has been one of the most satisfying and exhilarating experiences of my entire career, and I've been so fortunate to be on this journey with some of the best cast and crew in the business, people who truly embody the attributes of Loyal, Brave, and True," the director added.

Without revealing a future release date, Caro said that "I can't wait for the day where we will all get to experience this tale of a girl warrior who became a legend together."

Based on the legend of an ancient Chinese heroine, Hua Mulan, the film is a live action adaptation of Disney's 1998 animated film of the same name.

Chinese Mulan's first look. (PHOTO / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

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.

The virus has closed movie theaters in China, Italy and many other nations, while a ban on travel from Europe to the United States announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday is seen likely to curtail red carpets and other promotional events for movies and stars.

US 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.

Still image of the live-action version of Disney's 'Mulan', which will be screened in March. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

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

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.

READ MORE: Disney releases Chinese trailer for upcoming film 'Mulan'

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.