We have a brand new trailer for Disney’sMulanremake. This is the latest in the studio’s ongoing effort to revisit its back catalog of animated classics and revamp them in live-action form for modern audiences. So far, with just a couple of misfires aside, that’s a strategy that has proved itself to be quite lucrative. In this case, the Mouse House is taking things up a notch by making a grand Chinese-set war epic which will be a markedly different undertaking than say, turning Simba into a lifelike CGI lion forThe Lion Kingremake. In this latest footage, we get a look at the new witch villain Xianniang played by Gong Li.
This is the secondMulan trailerfor the movie that has been released. The studio previously unveiled a teaser, as well as a newMulan poster, but this is a more thorough look at what’s coming down the pipeline next year. Niki Caro, known previously for her work on movies such asWhale RiderandThe Zookeeper’s Wife, has been tapped to bring the 1998 animated classic to life. Yifei Liu, meanwhile, is tasked with playingMulan. Ming Na-Wen, ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.fame, voice the character in the animated version.
The cast also includes Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Gong Li Jet Li. The script was penned by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, who previously worked onJurassic Worldand the recentPlanet of the Apes) trilogy, as well as Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek. They’re a bit less experienced in the blockbuster world, with the TV movieChristams Perfectionserving as their only other produced work so far. Jason Reed, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner serve as producers, with Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Coddington and Bill Kong on board as executive producers.
Mulancenters on Hua Mulan (Yifei Liu) who is the eldest daughter of an honored warrior. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders. She steps up to take the place of her father, who has fallen ill. Posing as a man named Hua Jun, Mulan is tested along the way as she is forced to harness her inner-strength in order to embrace her true potential. Mulan finds herself on an epic journey that will transform her into a decorated warrior and earn her therespect of her country, as well as her father.
Starting with Tim Burton’sAlice in Wonderlandin 2010, which grossed more than $1 billion globally,Disneystarted this string of live-action remakes, which now also includesCinderella,Aladdin,The Lion King,Dumbo,Pete’s Dragon,Beauty and the BeastandThe Jungle Book, with many others on the way.Mulan, originally released in 1998 and directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, was a critical success that earned a solid $304 million at the box office.Mulanis set to hit theaters on March 27 fromWalt Disney Pictures. Be sure to check out the brand new trailer for yourself.
