Soul filmmakers hopeful for future of cinemas despite Disney+ release

Soul will be available to stream on Disney+ on Christmas Day (Disney/PA)

The filmmakers behind Pixar’s latest animation Soul have said they are “hopeful” for the future of cinemas, after it was announced the movie will skip a theatrical release and head straight to Disney+.

News that the highly-anticipated film, about a jazz musician whose soul separates from his body, will be made available on the streaming service on Christmas Day came shortly after cinema chain Cineworld announced it is temporarily closing all its UK sites, while nearly a quarter of Vue cinemas will be shut three days a week.