Disney reigned over the box office this past year, with its loyal subjects all lining up to watch six of its films gross more than $1 billion dollars worldwide (seven films, if we also count 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'). Disney Studios has its work cut out if it wants to beat its own record in 2020, but this doesn't mean that the House of Mouse doesn't intend to try. The live-action remakes of its animated classics are Disney's secret weapon this year, with the first of the batch, 'Mulan', hitting theatres on the 27th March.
Despite Disney's previous live-action adaptations 'Aladdin' and 'The Lion King' both remaining extremely loyal to the original animation, much like its heroine, 'Mulan' is breaking away from the trend and offering audiences a new take on the story that is very distinct from the hand-drawn classic released in 1998. Rather than adapt the original scene for scene, the studio has elected to transform the tale into a more realistic and mature interpretation of the story, opting to remove the film's iconic songs and more whimsical elements, such as the character of Mushu the dragon.
Eager to find out the reasoning behind such changes, we sat down to talk with the director of the upcoming film, Niki Caro, and its costume designer, Bina Daigler. As staunch fans of the original, we also asked them how and if music would have a place in this adaptation, as well as how likely we are to catch a whiff of a romantic subplot. Both also shared a few juicy details about the sinister witch played by Gong Li, which you can check out in the full interview below.
Welcome to the 21st Century, Fa Mulan
'Mulan' has always been considered as one of the most progressive and ahead of its time Disney classics. The strength and bravery of its protagonist made Fa Mulan into a beloved character whose animated icon status remains intact even today. Disney Studios is keen to reinvent this character for the next generations, with Liu Yifei stepping into the battle wear of the courageous heroine.
According to Niki Caro, it was hugely rewarding to see Mulan make her return to the big screen: "This story is more than one thousand years old. The journey of a village girl from soldier to warrior and legend has something to offer for everyone. It doesn't surprise me that it's been told so many times. But I truly believe that there has never been a better time to tell the story of a young, courageous woman".
To tell the story in question, the New Zealander director has put together a largely female crew, taking advantage of the opportunity to make such a large-scale film to contribute to the increasing diversification of Hollywood. "A high-profile film like this allows me to get my foot in the door, and to take all the women that I can with me. The more female directors there are and the more women there are in the industry, the more diverse the voices telling these stories will be".
'Mulan' will hit UK cinemas on the 27th March.
