Disney’s recent tweet about its new, live-action remake of Mulan (1998) is creating buzz. The highly anticipated film will star Chinese actress Liu Yifei in the titular role. The sneak peek – of Liu wielding a sword – generated excitement among fans and renewed discussion about alleged adaptations to the 1998 cartoon film.
Production has begun on live-action #Mulan! pic.twitter.com/o4nROnyw4H
— Disney (@Disney) August 13, 2018
In March, director Niki Caro announced that the remake would not be a musical, according to the Evening Standard. Casting calls also revealed that Mulan’s romantic interest would no longer be Captain Li Shang, Mulan’s army commander, but Chen Honghui, a fellow recruit.
Fans took to Twitter to express their opinions. Some hoped the live-action remake would be closely aligned with the original film, like Disney’s 2017 remake of Beauty and the Beast. Twitter user @MarissaRenee411 said, “If this movie doesn’t have the music, Li Shang, or Mushu, then no thank you.”
In April, it was leaked that the new film will include music, but not the original scores according to Ecns.cn. Many fans are still disappointed that the new film will not include popular songs from the original film like Reflection and I’ll Make a Man Out of You. Others, like @shuaijerks, acknowledged dismay about the new film’s diversions, but argued that the remake is “still a huge step for the Asian community and it deserves support.”
The live-action film, subject to both anticipation and debate, will be shot in New Zealand and China. Entertainment Weekly reports that it is slated to premiere in theaters in March 2020.
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