Disney's live-action "Mulan"

[James.B]

Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan' Lands Gong Li, Jet Li
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/heat-vision/disneys-live-action-mulan-lands-gong-li-jet-li-1101994?__twitter_impression=true

Jet Li is in final talks to play the emperor of China, who orders the mobilization of troops via the conscription of one male from each household. The titular heroine, Hua Mulan (Liu Yifei), disguises herself as a man in order to spare her elderly father from having to join the military.

Meanwhile, Gong Li is confirmed as the villain of Mulan, a powerful witch (this appears to be a departure from Disney's 1998 animated version, in which the primary antagonist was Shan Yu, leader of the invading Huns).

Also joining the cast is Chinese-Vietnamese actress Xana Tang, who will play Mulan's sister (another original character for the live-action film). The New Zealand-based actress' credits include local series Filthy Rich and Australian series The Letdown and Dead Lucky.

 

[Abudefduf]

Wow. Let's be real, it's only a matter of time before they announce Jackie Chan as Mushu.

I just checked Wikipedia and Mulan did have a sister in at least one version of the story. Can't find any mention of a witch though.

 

[Drizzle]

Wow. Let's be real, it's only a matter of time before they announce Jackie Chan as Mushu.

Given how little this will probably resemble the animated film, I wouldn't be surprised if Mushu was cut altogether.

 

[PhasedPlasma101]

So Donnie Yen's character and Mulan will be a thing by the end right? If so, he's a little old, no?

Also, No Shan Yu and the invading Huns or still Huns but now a witch? Shan Yu was imposing and badass. Brought a real sense of danger to the animated. Dunno if I'll be interested just off of that. Maybe the trailer will knock it out of the park.

 

[#root]

Judging from the character descriptions, this sounds like it's going to be quite different from the animated version.

 

[Abudefduf]

Which is not a bad thing in my opinion. I don't want another slavish re-creation like the Beauty and the Beast remake, I want something new and different.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mushu was cut altogether.

Hopefully not.

 

[Legendver2]

As a fan of Liu Yifei for over a decade now, it's kind of weird seeing your #1 all of a sudden get so much recognition, and this is before the movie's even released lol. But if this means she'll show up at SDCC or D23 and I get a realistic chance to meet her in person, I'm all for it.

 

[Lencho01]

Yeah, looking more and more like no Mushu in this one.

 

[terry78]

No Iago in Aladdin, no Mushu in Mulan....ya'll testing me Disney.

 

[m2k]

Astonishing casting! Gong Li, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen are mega-stars?! Gong Li has never appeared in films with either Jet or Donnie yet. This is a huge deal in the Asian community!.. Interest has shot up majorly for me!

 

[Drizzle]

No Iago in Aladdin, no Mushu in Mulan....ya'll testing me Disney.

These live action adaptations are the textbook definition of "damned if you do, damned if you don't". People complained that Beauty and the Beast was too similar to the animated version and they'll complain that Mulan is too different. Granted, we don't know for sure that Mushu won't be in it but it's not looking good.

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

No Iago in Aladdin, no Mushu in Mulan....ya'll testing me Disney.

Woah, woah, woah, what?

 

[terry78]

They have yet to mention him, unless he's just an actual ****ing parrot that acts like one.

 

[Silvermoth]

Hmmm more castin announced today? I wonder if they intend to cast more and more each day to build up hype? That’s exciting.

Maybe it’s controversial to say but if they cast gong Li as a witch, is it still as important that mulan has to disguise herself as a man in order to fight?

 

[Silvermoth]

I was wrong oh well

 

[Inhuman117]

No Iago in Aladdin, no Mushu in Mulan....ya'll testing me Disney.

Says WHO ??????

 

[Tg11]

I wonder if Mulan will have a huge turnout for the Asian community like how Black Panther was such a huge turnout for the African-American community? I mean Asians are just as much of a minority as black people are

 

[Silvermoth]

I think it might be slightly different. If you’re Asian American you’re definitely starved for good representation in western media but you might have a lot of content from your families last country like jdramas or kdramas or mandarin soapies etc.

I would love a huge roar though. I’m sure there will be the super fans turning up but not quite the same as black panther

 

[Loki882]

I think that Disney is ideally hoping that, unlike the animated version, this one does well in China itself.

 

[Darkness Falls]

curious to see how a witch plays into the story
i suppose it makes sense given there was supernatural elements in the original with the ancestors and guardians etc

i wonder if they will still include shan yu

 

[Silvermoth]

There seems to be an online story out there at the moment that Shang has been removed and replaced by Donnie yens character. If that’s true it sounds like they are doing something like I, robot where they had a story but no name brand recognition so they just said they are making an I, robot story, used some elements of the original text and made their own thing.

That said though I’ve noticed Disney fans are very hysterical and prone to net rumours so it might be nothing

 

[KevTravels]

how do Asian Americans view Asian products (films/music/celebs) coming from Japan/S Korea/China/Phillipines? Like do they connect at all or do they find some interest due to lack of representation here in the US?

 

[Fincher]

Not sure, but there are a lot of movies made in Nigeria, and that didn't stop Black Panther from being huge.

 

[terry78]

how do Asian Americans view Asian products (films/music/celebs) coming from Japan/S Korea/China/Phillipines? Like do they connect at all or do they find some interest due to lack of representation here in the US?

I went out with a korean chick for a while and while she was born here and grew up here, she was into the korean dramas and and the kpop and what not, as well as the more typical suburban basic chick stuff, haha. I think there's more of a connection due to them having family members that immigrated as opposed to me just being black and having like all my family pretty much here.

 

[Tg11]

Either way I can see this being a big hit and this film not only appealing to all Asians but appealing to pretty much everyone of every race too I mean it has to if it is under the Disney umbrella