Luca, the latest Disney-Pixar animated feature film, is skipping theaters entirely and coming exclusively to Disney+ on June 18, 2021.

Disney used this strategy successfully with Soul last Christmas. However, it is potentially another blow to exhibitors as Disney doubles down on its DTC (direct-to-consumer) business model to compete with Netflix.

From TheWrap…

“Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences. By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world,” Kareem Daniel, chairman, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, said in a statement.

While it’s unlikely that Luca would’ve done gangbusters with theaters being in the partially shuttered state they’re in, it doesn’t bode well for exhibitors moving forward. Both Black Widow and Cruella will still open in theaters alongside their Disney+ Premier Access debuts.

Here is the official plot synopsis of Luca:

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.

[Source: TheWrap]