It was pegged as one of the biggest releases of the year, but Pixar film <em>Soul</em> will bypass cinemas and premiere on streaming service Disney+ instead. The decision by Walt Disney Co represents a further setback for Hollywood and cinemas around the world, in what has already been a disastrous year for the industry. Following the postponement of the James Bond film <em>No Time to Die</em> in November, the next big movie on the cinema calendar is Warner Bros' <em>Wonder Woman 1984,</em> which is currently slated for release on December 25. <em>Soul</em> will be available to subscribers of Disney+, at no additional charge. Disney last month released <em>Mulan</em> to its streaming service of 60 million-plus subscribers, but charged $30 for early access. Expectations had been running high for <em>Soul</em>, which stars Jamie Foxx and is directed by Pete Docter, Pixar's chief creative officer and the filmmaker behind <em>Up</em> and <em>Inside Out</em>. Foxx plays a middle school teacher who dreams of becoming a jazz musician. Originally planned to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Soul's theatrical release had been scheduled for November 20. “The world can be an exhausting and frustrating place – but it’s also full of unexpected joys, even in seemingly mundane things,” said Docter in a statement. "<em>Soul</em> investigates what's really important in our lives, a question we're all asking these days. I hope it will bring some humour and fun to people at a time when everyone can surely use that."