Varun Patel
Disney’s mission of converting its classic animated stories from the past into live-action remakes is certainly an exciting one with everything to gain for viewers and fans of the studio’s universally appealing tales. And why would we have anything to lose? Disney movies have become household names for their warm movies that have captured the attention of multiple generations. The studio aims to acquaint newer generations with its successful tales with its strategy of producing live action remakes.
It started with ‘The Jungle Book’ which got a live-action version in 1994 and more recently, in 2016. The same year, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ provided a visually stunning offering while ‘Dumbo’ and ‘The Lion King’ were considered generally underwhelming. 2017’s ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ on the other hand was met with critical acclaim. You might enjoy the adaptations or not, but one thing is for certain: Disney has mastered the art and craft of visual animation style. The newer movies look extremely realistic and offer a picturesque and stunning depiction.
‘Mulan’ is one of the latest entries in this list. It is a live-action remake of the 1998 animated movie by Disney of the same name. Based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, it was Disney’s 36th animated feature and turned out to be a ground-breaking success. Exploring themes of family responsibility, duty and honour, ‘Mulan’ was noted for its stunning animation and depth of characterization. The movie was well-researched and Disney had even sent artists to China in order to learn more about the nation’s design and culture.
Mulan Plot: What is it about?
The movie follows a young girl named Fa Mulan who stays with her family that is mostly composed of women. When the Huns invade China by breaching the Great Wall of China, the Chinese Emperor issues an order demanding each family to send at least one man to fight the ensuing war.
However, Mulan’s father is the only man in her family. Despite being an army veteran, Mulan worries for him due to his ailing health. In order to save her father from facing the harshness of war, Mulan decides to disguise as a man and gets enlisted in the army posing as a representative from her family. She is determined and quick on her feet, but an inexperienced fighter nonetheless. She adopts the name of Hua Jun and faces challenges that test her at every step of the way.
Mulan Cast: Who is in it?
Apart from being accorded a special place due to it being a live-action remake of a notable Disney movie, ‘Mulan’ is also revolutionary due to its inclusive nature. The cast is mostly played by Chinese artists.
Liu Yifei, sometimes known by her English name, Crystal Liu essays the titular protagonist for ‘Mulan.’ She is a Chinese-American actress who first starred in a notable international production with the movie, ‘Outcast’ alongside Nicholas Cage. Then, she appeared in a Chinese-French movie named ‘Night Peacock’ which was critically acclaimed. She studied at the Beijing Film Academy and started her career by appearing on numerous Chinese television series.
Donnie Yen, the Hong Kong actor plays the character of Commander Tung, Mulan’s mentor. He is considered to be one of Hong Kong’s top action stars and has trained in several martial arts forms. Moreover, he is recognized internationally for playing Chirrut Imwe on ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and Xiang in ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage.’
Jason Scott Lee returns to the world of Disney movies with ‘Mulan.’ He had notable starred as Mowgli in the 1994 live-action remake of ‘The Jungle Book.’ An American actor of Chinese and Hawaiian descent, he is known for appearing in ‘Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story’ apart from ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.’ He portrays the role of Bori Khan, a Hun warrior.
Moreover, the Macanese-New Zealander actor, Yoson An plays the role of Chen Honghui, Mulan’s ally in war and love interest. Gong Li, a Singaporean actress plays the movie’s main antagonist, Xian Lang. Lang who is a powerful witch.
Other actors involved include Jet Li, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma and Rosalind Chao.
Mulan Crew: Who is Behind it?
‘Mulan; is directed by the New Zealand director, Niki Caro. She is renowned for helming ‘Whale Rider’ which received universal critical acclaim and was the recipient of multiple international awards. After ‘Mulan,’ she will become the second female filmmaker to direct a movie with a budget in excess of $100 million.
The screenplay is written by Elizabeth Martin, Lauren Hynek, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Harry Gregson-Williams has composed the movie’s music while Mandy Walker has handled the cinematography. David Coulson, meanwhile has edited the movie.
Mulan Release Date: When Does it Premiere?
‘Mulan’ is scheduled to release in the United States on March 27, 2020. The movie began filming on August 13, 2018 and wrapped up in November that year.
Mulan Trailer:
A trailer for the upcoming live action movie has been released by Disney and can be watched below. It presents a vibrant glance at the movie’s epic scale and brilliant visuals. Moreover, it is also a decent preview into the performance of the actors and the stylistic and tonal nature of the adaptation.
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