Production has officially begun on Disney’s live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated classic coming of age story, Mulan. This marks yet another live-action adaptation for Disney, which found massive success in the recently adapted Beauty and the Beast. The film will shoot in various locations in New Zealand and China and will open in cinemas March 2020.
Mulan tells the tale of a young woman who dons the disguise of a male solider in order to ward off the Northern Invaders descending onto China. Hua Mulan is determined and motivated, but when the Emperor declares that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army, Mulan takes the place of her father, as she looks to prove her worth.
After a year-long casting search, Liu Yifei (The Forbidden Kingdom) will play Hua Mulan, and will be joined by Donnie Yen (Star wars: Rogue One), Jason Scott Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Pitch Perfect), Ron Yuan (Marco Polo), Tzi Ma (Arrival), Rosalind Chao (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Chen Pei-Pei (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Jet Li (Lethal Weapon 4). The announcement of the commencement of filming comes with a glance of Yifei in the iconic role.
The film will be directed by Niki Caro (Whale Rider) with a screenplay from Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Jurassic World). Jason T. Reed (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Chris Bender (A History of Violence)and Jake Weiner (Criminal) will produce, with Barrie M. Osborne (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Tim Coddington (Crazy Rich Asians) serving as executive producers.
Disney’s original animated feature from 1998 starred Ming-Na Wen, Miguel Ferrer and Eddie Murphy and proved successful, being nominated for an Oscar® and two Golden Globe® Awards.
Mulan will hit theatres worldwide March 2020.
