Disney releases Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker and Frozen 2 online early to spread 'fun and joy'

Studio is 'surprising families during this challenging period'

Disney has moved up its plans to release two of its films digitally in an attempt to boost morale in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

After Italy and Spain announced national lockdown and citizens of infected cities were advised to stay indoors, the studio have made Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen II available to watch online.

JJ Abrams' Rise of Skywalker was set to be released digitally this Tuesday (17 March), but Frozen fans would have had to wait three months until its sequel arrived on Disney+.

This means that the film will be available to watch in the UK when the studio's new streaming service launches on 24 March.

While not naming coronavirus specifically, a spokesperson for Disney said it was "surprising families with some fun and joy during this challenging period".

Disney has hated production on the majority of its forthcoming film and television projects, including Marvel film Shang-Chi and its live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

The studio is not alone – numerous other high-profile productions have had their production temporarily suspended amid the "national emergency".

Find a full list of every film and TV show cancelled or delayed by the pandemic here and a compilation of everything joining Disney+ here.

Upon its release in December, The Rise of Skywalker was criticised for leaving many questions unanswered, one of which surrounded the reason behind Emperor Palpatine’s return.

However, this very answer was recently provided in the film’s tie-in novel after the scene was scrapped from Abrams' final cut.