The Walt Disney Company has taken the decision to cancel the highly anticipated Hong Kong premiere of Zootopia 2 and associated events as a mark of respect for the victims of the catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday, has resulted in at least 94 confirmed fatalities, with over 270 individuals still reported missing as of Friday morning.
A City in Mourning
The fire, described as the deadliest in Hong Kong for nearly eight decades, ravaged seven of the eight residential towers in the Wang Fuk Court complex. The scale of the tragedy is immense, with several dozen people injured and approximately 900 of the estate's 4,800 residents forced to relocate to temporary shelters. Rescue operations continue to scour the smouldering remains for any further survivors, with officials hoping to have the fire fully extinguished by Friday evening.
In a significant development, Hong Kong police have made arrests in connection with the disaster. Two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction have been taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter. City authorities have pointed to "grossly negligent" practices, alleging the firm used unsafe building materials during maintenance work.
Entertainment Industry Responds to Tragedy
In response to the devastating event, Disney announced the cancellation of the Zootopia 2 Gala Premiere scheduled for 27 November at Hong Kong Disneyland. This included the cancellation of a scheduled appearance by Cantonese dub star Joey Yung, who voices the character of Judy Hopps. The studio stated the decision was made "out of respect" for those affected by the fire.
Further cancellations at the theme park included a planned fireworks display and other events. Hong Kong Disneyland communicated that guests holding valid tickets for the day would be permitted to revisit the park on another date within a six-month window. The resort assured patrons that "follow-up arrangements" for the film's screening would be announced in due course.
Widespread Cultural Postponements
The impact of the tragedy has reverberated throughout Hong Kong's entertainment and cultural calendar. The 2025 Mama Awards, a major K-pop awards ceremony set for the Kai Tak Stadium, significantly altered its format. Organisers announced the event would "transition to a format of 'mourning' and 'comfort'", cancelling the red carpet ceremony entirely. Numerous K-pop agencies and idols, alongside scheduled appearances from actors Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-fat and band Mirror, were pulled from the event.
Local singer Jace Chan postponed the public ticket sale for her upcoming concert, stating it felt "inappropriate to proceed with ticket sales at a time like this". Concerts by Arvin Tsang, Angela Hui, and Ken Hung at MacPherson Stadium set for 28-30 November have also been postponed.
Adding to the list of cancellations, the charity Oxfam called off its annual Trailwalker fundraising hiking event. The organisation stated the move was to "allow the government and rescuers to focus their resources on the rescue effort" and pledged to direct all public donations from the event to support the fire-affected residents.
As Hong Kong mourns, the community's focus remains squarely on the ongoing rescue efforts and supporting the victims and families of one of the city's most profound modern tragedies.
