“Birds of Prey” will be flying to VOD outlets early, as more and more movie theaters close due to COVID-19. Variety confirms Cathy Yan’s Harley Quinn story will be available for digital purchase on iTunes, Amazon, and the like on March 24. It will be available for rent in April. The Warner Bros. title hit theaters February 7.

“It would be a surprising move at any other time, since ‘Birds of Prey’ is still playing in theaters and exhibitors have been steadfast to resist any attempts from studios to shorten the amount of time that films are exclusively available on the big screen,” the source explains. “However, multiplexes in multiple states, including New York, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, have been ordered to close in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Even before theaters officially closed, audiences had started to avoid crowded venues amid the public health crisis, causing box office ticket sales to crater.”

As the CDC is recommending that public gatherings of 50 people or more be cancelled, it’s not surprising — and probably for the best — that studio pics are hitting VOD earlier than planned. Universal’s “The Invisible Woman” and “The Hunt” will also be available for digital purchase soon, as will Autumn de Wilde’s “Emma.,” which hails from Universal specialty label Focus Features.

Written by Christina Hodson (“Bumblebee”), “Birds of Prey” sees newly-single anti-heroine Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) banding together with DC superheroes Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to take on a Gotham crime lord.