Following Universal's lead, both Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn and The Gentlemen have moved up their home video release dates and will now be available next Tuesday. Directed by Cathy Yan, Birds of Prey was released in theaters February 7 as the first R-rated film in the DCEU. It stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell. The Gentlemen, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery, released two weeks earlier, on January 24.

This news follows the many delays and changes in Hollywood due to the coronavirus. Most television shows and movies currently filming have halted their productions, from The CW's Arrowverse shows to Disney movies. Films like Mulan and A Quiet Place Part II, which were supposed to be released in theaters this month, have been forced to delay their releases indefinitely. Many studios are also being pushed to delay films that are supposed to come out in the next few months, like Black Widow, as the CDC recommends no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks.

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Fandango shared the news on their Twitter. This comes after Universal announced that The Invisible Man, Emma, and The Hunt will be available this Friday on home video, breaking the normal theatrical window schedule. In response to this announcement, director Yan wrote on her Twitter that "I would not be opposed to putting Birds of Prey on VOD earlier." Shortly after, Fandango confirmed that not just Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) would be available earlier, but also Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Check out Fandango's announcement:

This trend might bring more attention to films that would normally be overlooked or were not super successful in theaters. For example, Birds of Prey was well-received by critics and fans alike, but the film didn't do great at the box office, with the studio even changing the name to focus more on Harley Quinn. It's possible more people will check out the film when it's on home video. With everyone spending time inside, studios are realizing this presents a great opportunity to make more money by releasing their films on home video earlier than expected.

As the world encourages social distancing and isolation, many studios are adjusting to the new situation. Like Disney's decision to release Frozen 2 on Disney+ early and bring Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to VOD services, this could be a way to recoup some funds while so much is lost with the delay of productions. Hopefully, Birds of Pry (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and The Gentlemen are just the start of a trend, and maybe we will see some films with delayed release dates turn to VOD or streaming instead of making fans wait.

More: Disney Beat Netflix In The Coronavirus Streaming Wars

Source: Fandango