Ever since the release of Maleficent, reactions towards live-action Disney takes on animated classics have been rather mixed. Simply the notion of Disney “updating” their animated films feels like pandering cash-grab, luring audience members back to theaters on the promise of repackaged nostalgia. Even when the films receive positive reviews, such as Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, there is still sense that something is “missing” from the final product. Which begs the question: will the upcoming Mulan movie be able to stand both on its own and as a remake?
Based entirely on the photo below: possibly. Released on Monday to celebrate the first day of production, Mulan’s debut screenshot highlights actress Liu Yifei as the titular Mulan. Yifei, who won the part out of nearly 1,000 candidates across five continents, is shown dressed in red and wielding her Sword of the Ancestor jian blade. Production for the film is currently underway in both China and New Zealand.
Mulan, a remake of the 1998 animated film starring Ming-Na Wen and Eddie Murphy, is based on an iconic Chinese folktale of young woman who disguises herself as a man to join the military in her ailing father’s place. The film is directed by Niki Caro and stars Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Gong Li, and Jet Li. It is currently set for a March 27, 2020 release date.
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