“LITTLE Women” and “1917” appear to be among the first titles that will hit Chinese theaters when they reopen in the wake of the COVID-19, new posters indicate.

The two titles were scheduled for release in February, just after the Oscars, but were bumped when cinemas shuttered nationwide. No release date has been set, but the two films have released new posters.

The one for “1917” features two soldiers striding forward through a scrim of cherry blossoms and barbed wire above the tagline, “Make a date with cinemas, together as before.” A new “Little Women” poster now reads, “Don’t miss out on love and freedom” above the tagline “On the big screen; stay tuned.” Online ticket platform Maoyan has been promoting the film by saying, “Love and happiness will always be able to withstand waiting. The cinema screens are already prepared and waiting for you.”

The marketing is an interesting window into the sorts of messaging distributors think will pull audiences back into theaters at a time when people remain understandably wary about COVID-19.

Last week, the State Council announced that entertainment venues such as cinemas could reopen as long as they controlled crowds and used pre-booking methods. But no screenings are currently scheduled on China’s online ticketing apps.

“It takes time to be implemented in various provinces and regions,” Yang Fabao, a cinema head in Xinjiang, told the Global Times. Xinjiang, which had a lighter coronavirus case load, was one of the first areas to attempt reopening cinemas back in March.

On Wednesday, top Chinese CDC official Shi Xiaoming put forward a number of measures that theaters in low-risk areas should take in order to reopen, when the time comes. Theaters should make sure to have enough disinfectants on hand, improve online pre-booking channels and on-site methods of no-contact digital ticketing, ensure that tickets are sold for seats spaced one meter apart, conduct regular cleanings, improve ventilation, and provide proper personal protective equipment for staff.

He also called on viewers to avoid going to movies with friends, and instead lean towards watching them alone or with family members.

The initial spate of films currently being discussed may also include other 2020 Oscar nominees, including “Marriage Story,” “Jojo Rabbit” and “Ford v Ferrari”; classic older films like the “Avengers” series, the “Harry Potter” franchise, “Inception,” “Interstellar” and “Coco”; and new Chinese titles — either comedies or some of the postponed Chinese New Year blockbusters.

(SD-Agencies)