Production Begins on Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan' Remake

ThatsShanghai 2019-06-23

By Lauren Zemel

Twenty years after its last Oscar-nominated adaption, the story of one of China’s most legendary warriors has begun production once again.

This week, Disney started filming its live-action remake of the 1998 animated classic Mulan. This morning, award-winning director of the film, Niki Caro, posted an image to Instagram from the first day of shooting.

Image via @nikicaro/Instagram

The image appears to feature Chinese actress Liu Yifei in costume for a performance of the hit song 'Reflection.' Here's a clip from the original film of the same song:

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=l002016alsl&width=500&height=375&auto=0

On Monday, Disney also released its first official photos of Liu as the title character.

Image via @Disney/Twitter

Image via Disney/MTime

The 31-year-old actress herself is a standout. Liu has experience in Hollywood adaptions of Chinese films, including The Forbidden Kingdom, Outcast and The Chinese Widow.

The 1998 animated version of Mulan. Image via Disney/IMDB

No images of Liu's celebrity martial arts cast mates have surfaced yet. Jet Li will be playing the emperor of China, Gong Li will be playing a dangerous witch and Donnie Yen will be playing the role of Mulan’s mentor, Commander Tung.

Donnie Yen, Gong Li and Jet Li. Images via Wikimedia Commons

Somewhat controversially, the role of Li Shang, Mulan's love interest in the original animated film, has been cut from the remake. The character will be replaced by another one named Chen Honghui, who will be portrayed by New Zealand actor Yoson An.

Yoson An and Li Shang. Images via IMDB

Other recognizable actors with small appearances in the film include Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee and Chum Ehelepola.

Late last year, Caro posted a slew of images from scouting locations in western China to her Instagram account. Among some of the places captured included the Zhangye National Geopark (home of the 'Rainbow Mountains') in Gansu and sand dunes in Xinjiang.

Image via @nikicaro/Instagram

The film is set to be released on March 27, 2020. While you wait, here's a clip of the beloved song 'I'll Make a Man Out of You':

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=p00239ik7wx&width=500&height=375&auto=0

[Cover image via @Disney/Twitter]

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