Walt Disney Co. is "pausing" the theatrical release of its movies in Russia amid Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, marking one of the most significant responses to the crisis yet from the movie business.
In a Monday statement, the Burbank entertainment giant cited the upcoming Pixar film "Turning Red," which Disney is releasing in the U.S. and elsewhere in March. This makes Disney the first major movie studio to stop film releases in Russia in response to the attack.
"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," Disney said. "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."
