Disney Will Make a Man Out of You: Live-Action ‘Mulan’ in the Works

Fresh off their successful live-adaptations of Disney tales like Cinderella and Maleficent, Disney intends to continue striking while that iron burns hot with Mulan. I’m legitimately excited.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Disney bought a script by writing team Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek that centers on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, the female warrior who was the main character in Disney’s 1998 animated film.

 

Chris Bender and J.C. Spink (We’re the Millers) are producing the new project.

Mulan will be yet another entry in live-action reboots Disney has in the works.

Disney is also making a live-action retelling of Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson andDan Stevens. Audra McDonaldjust joined the cast of the project, which will be directed by Bill Condon. It hits theaters on March 17, 2017. And in 2016 Disney will release a new version of The Jungle Book and the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. Finally, a live-action version of Dumbo, which will be helmed by Tim Burton, is also in the works.

The success of genre properties like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones must have unlocked Disney’s awareness of their older audience who have a fond affinity of never growing up past their childhood. How long before we see The Lion King with real lions?

I’m not knocking their decision — a live-action Mulan that looks like Red Cliff? Yes please! — I just think it’s funny that it’s only in this era that Disney could profit from these types of movies. The direct influence from geekier properties are clear, but appropriated into Disney fairy tales (which itself were mostly Grimm stories which clearly Mulan isn’t, but still) is just amusing to me.

Points for Disney for hiring women writers. I do hope they commit to the, uh, ahem, exotic aspects of Mulan and not cast non-Asians in any prominent roles. Of all the ethnicities underrepresented in Hollywood, it’s Asians, man. There were twenty years between Margaret Cho’s failed sitcom to ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat. Twenty.

It is currently unknown when this new Mulan will hit theaters, but I hope it’s soon. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.