[49] The soundtrack album was released by Walt Disney Records on September 4, 2020. Additionally, the singer confirmed that she would also release a re-recorded version of "Reflection. [85][87], In September 2020, Cynthia Vinney of CBR wrote that Honghui's interactions with Mulan were "more homoerotic" than Li Shang's in the animated version and likewise "can be read as bisexual". "[92], Criticism has also been directed at the fact that filming took place in the province of Xinjiang, where internment camps containing up to a million ethnically Turkic citizens are located. Over the course of production, the film was the subject of several controversies, including changes to the source material and filming in Xinjiang in light of the Uyghur genocide and Xinjiang re-education camps. The film stars Yifei Liu in the title role, alongside Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan, Gong Li, and Jet Li in supporting roles. [122], In April 2020, it was reported that a Mulan sequel is in development with Chris Bender, Jason T. Reed, and Jake Weiner returning as producers. She frees the Emperor, who offers to let her join his personal guard. Finance overestimated Mulan's revenue, as their figures were for accounts active during that period and not the total subscriber base, and clarified that 10.3% of all accounts purchased the film, with U.S. revenue estimated to be $62–93 million; Yahoo! [33] Next, Disney met with Jiang Wen for the position; finally on February 14, 2017, New Zealander Niki Caro was hired as the director of the film, which made Mulan the second Disney film with a female director and a budget above $100 million following A Wrinkle in Time. 'The Ballad of Mulan' has always been an epic-scale story about the power of being yourself in a world not ready to accept that, a tale that will likely always have resonance. Alongside dozens of other inexperienced recruits, she ultimately becomes a trained soldier under his tutelage without exposing her true identity. The people who are hired for all kinds of stories need to be more diverse. That sounds a little bit like censorship to me. Like a rare, beautiful flower that blossoms in the face of adversity, Mulan proves her worth outside of her tradition-bound society and becomes a legendary warrior. As early as 2010, Walt Disney Pictures had expressed interest in a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film Mulan with international Chinese star Zhang Ziyi, and Chuck Russell chosen as the director. [51] The film was originally scheduled for a November 2, 2018 theatrical release, but was delayed, with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms taking its slot. [77][78], The film was marked by several controversies, relating to both production decisions as well as comments by individuals involved in the movie. [39], The visual effects are provided by Sony Pictures Imageworks, Weta Digital, Framestore, and Image Engine. It doesn't work as a film that elicits nostalgia, it doesn't work as a historical drama that explores Chinese culture, and it doesn't even work well as a stand-alone film, separate from the original. It was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, with story by Robert D. San Souci and screenplay by Rita Hsiao, Philip LaZebnik, Chris Sanders, Eugenia Bostwick-Singer, and Raymond Singer. received more than 100,000 signatures. Imperial soldiers arrive in Mulan's village to enlist recruits and her elderly and frail father Hua Zhou is forced to pledge his service as he has no sons. He waited until after she was no longer under his command to pursue any sort of romantic relationship. Mulan features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. With a production budget of $200 million, the film grossed $70 million at the box office, not including digital earnings from Disney+. One of the more common complaints about the film is its treatment of qi. Her pink bridal outfit is very often confused for a kimono (Japanese), but is actually the Chinese garment hanfu. Mulan removes her male disguise, returning to the battle just as the Rourans begin attacking her fellow troops with a trebuchet. [138][139], Yanni Chow and Carol Mang of Reuters wrote that the film had "a lacklustre reception in Hong Kong" amidst calls from pro-democracy activists for a boycott. Mulan: 7 Deleted Scenes; 2 Backstage Disney Featurettes; Journey behind the scenes with the filmmakers and cast; 5 Music Videos featuring Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, 98*, Jackie Chan & more; Audio Commentary - And more! In general, the remake's characters are terribly unconvincing. Die offizielle Website zu Disney Mulan, mit mehr Informationen zum Film. [61] The film will not be offered in France as a premium offering, instead releasing to Disney+ subscribers in the country for free at a later date. On her way, she is confronted by Xianniang, who reveals that she was also shunned by her people and fights for Böri Khan only because he treats her as an equal. It is the story of a brave young woman disguising herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China. It is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and was Disney's 36th animated feature and the ninth animated film produced and released during the Disney Renaissance. He stated that, since "[t]he traditional Disney audience and the diaspora Asian audience viewed the movie in one way, and the traditional Chinese in China audience viewed a slightly different way," the filmmakers "dug in to try and make sure that [they are] addressing both of those audiences in a thoughtful way. Li reprised her role in the Mandarin-language dubbing of the movie. [21], Disney originally sought an Asian director. What a shame for Hong Kong." All Rights Reserved. “Mulan” will debut on Disney+ on Sept. 4 for $29.99. Disney's live-action adaptation of the beloved animated classic was previously … She wasn't born into royalty, nor did she marry a prince. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. [29] It was rescheduled for March 27, 2020[52][53] before being removed from the release calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was written by Jamie Hartman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rosi Golan and Billy Crabtree, and produced by Jamie Hartman. "[89], There was criticism over having a production team largely composed of white people, such as for the roles of director, costume designer, and screenwriter. This is pure pastiche, as Caro and her crew shamelessly pilfer from kung fu, Fifth Generation and Hong Kong action movies, incorporating anime and Bollywood touches as well. [12], Harry Gregson-Williams, who previously worked with Caro on The Zookeeper's Wife, composed the film's score.[1]. [69] On November 4, a video clip filmed during a Toho cinema preview was leaked online, featuring new shots of Mulan as a warrior battling fiercely and taking off her hair band. Buy it on Digital at GOOGLE PLAY | ITUNES, Also available on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ & DVD: JB HI-FI | BIG W | SANITY. An online petition titled "Tell Disney You Don't Want A Whitewashed Mulan!" Mulan arrives at the training camp, which is run by Commander Tung, an old comrade of Hua Zhou. "[126], Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B+ and described it as "a classic hero(ine)'s tale, exhilarating in its elaborate set pieces and large-scale ambitions even when the smaller human story within it sometimes falls short. The site's critical consensus read, "It could have told its classic story with greater depth, but the live-action Mulan is a visual marvel that serves as a stirring update to its animated predecessor. 2. [88] Lauren Puckett of Harper's Bazaar wrote "Some fans understood and agreed with the #MeToo argument. [98][99] US Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Chapek asking, among other things, for clarification on Chinese government involvement in the film. Iain responded by saying, "Disney's corporate policy does not appear to care about the human rights issues," on Twitter. [35][23] According to actress Gong Li, the film's production budget was $290–300 million due to the "massive and...unprecedented scale" of the sets,[36][37] although the actual figure was later reported to be $200 million. [107] However, following the film's opening weekend, Business Insider reported it had been viewed by 1.12 million households (only including users renting with TV-connected devices), which would result in $33.5 million in sales for Disney. The coronavirus could threaten that", "Mulan: Disney casts Chinese actress Liu Yifei in lead role", "Mandarin-Dubbed Version Of Mulan To Be Released On Sept 18", "Mandarin-dubbed 'Mulan' out in S'pore on Sep. 18, 2020", "Mandarin-Dubbed Mulan Releasing In Singapore On 18 September", "Donnie Yen To Star In Disney's Live Action 'Mulan, "Disney Casts 'Mulan' Love Interest (Exclusive)", "Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan' Lands Gong Li, Jet Li (Exclusive)", "There Are No Talking Dragons Or Singing Generals In This Live-Action 'Mulan' Trailer", "Ming-Na Wen, Voice Of Animated Mulan, Responds To New Teaser", "Watch the first trailer for Disney's live-action remake of Mulan", "Disney's 'Mulan' Casts Jimmy Wong & Doua Moua", "Adrian Martinez Joins Disney's 'Lady and the Tramp'; 'Mulan' Adds Chen Tang", "Disney's Mulan Remake Trailer Drops This Sunday", "All the characters from the live-action 'Mulan,' ranked", "The live-action 'Mulan' has an unexpected cameo you may overlook the first time around. Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s MULAN, in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. [63], The film was still released theatrically in countries where theaters had re-opened, and do not have Disney+. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that Lee was approached but declined, on October 12, 2016. "[44] Christina Aguilera, who previously performed an end-credits version of "Reflection" for the original film, confirmed during a performance in The Xperience that she had recorded a new version of "Reflection," as well as new material for the remake's soundtrack. "[46][47] On March 8, a Mandarin-version of the song, titled "自己" ("Zìjǐ"), performed by Yifei Liu was released,[48] while Aguilera's English version was issued later the same year, on August 28. And anyway, it was Mulan who had the crush on him! [12] Reed also said, aside from both the original ballad and the animated film, the filmmakers drew inspiration from different Chinese adaptations of the ballad while writing the film. In Imperial China, Hua Mulan is an adventurous and active girl, to the disappointment of her parents, who hopes that one day she will be wed to a good husband. Mulan. 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, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honoured warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. [120], As of December 2020[update] review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 73% of 296 critics gave the film a positive review, being certified fresh on the site. "[130], Aja Romano of Vox wrote, "The Mulan remake jettisons everything great about Disney's animated classic and delivers nothing new." Though she still tried to "honour the music from the animation in a very significant way,"[43] as she did not want to disrespect the original film; however, she stated she could not find a place to use the original music. It is directed by Niki Caro, with a screenplay by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin. She disguises herself as a man and joins the Chinese Imperial Army in her father's place. Xianniang, posing as the Imperial Chancellor, persuades the Emperor to accept Böri Khan's challenge to single combat, while removing the city guards from their posts. [124], Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, praising the "fine cast, exciting action and spectacular visuals" and writing, "This is such a great-looking film, with amazing set pieces and dazzling action and colors so vibrant they would dazzle a Crayola factory, it will still play well on your home monitor. [113] In its second weekend in the open market, the film placed second at Fandango, fourth on Google Play, and fifth at Apple TV. She declines the offer and returns to her village. "[91] In an August 2020 interview with Film School Rejects, Caro responded further to the criticism, saying "Firstly, I resist the idea that you tell somebody who can tell what story. 1. Mulan is the only Disney Princess to be of East Asian descent. Finance then reported that, according to analytics research firm 7Park Data, nearly 29% of U.S. Disney+ subscribers that accessed the app from September 1 to 12 purchased Mulan, which in the best-case scenario would result in $261 million for Disney. [28] On February 27, 2020, Reed said that Mulan's sidekick from the original film, Mushu, was removed due to the character's negative reception in China. The film had a traditional theatrical release in countries without Disney+ where theaters have re-opened. Terms apply. [...] Despite [Honghui's] attraction, he hardly has the same respect for her that brave and beautiful Li Shang did. "[125] Kate Erbland of IndieWire gave the film a "B+", calling it a "remarkable action epic that carves its own path" and wrote, "Mulan is perhaps the best example of how to marry the original with something fresh. MULAN. [41][42] Caro later explained that the songs were deleted because she felt their use did not fit with her realistic vision of the film; she believes that since people do not break out into song as they enter war, the film should not either. Shreya Sharma is the Co-Founder and Creative Head of Bedtimeshortstories.com. Hollywood Studios Weigh Risks of PVOD", "DATA: 'BORAT 2' SECOND ONLY TO 'HAMILTON' IN MOST-WATCHED U.S. SVOD MOVIES OF 2020", "Box Office: 'Mulan' Nabs $6M Overseas As 'Bill & Ted' Rules VOD", "Disney's 'Mulan' Makes Soft Start at China Box Office", "Disney's 'Mulan' gets cold reception in boycott-leading Hong Kong", "Dazzling 'Mulan' comes to life with flying colors", "Review: Disney's 'Mulan,' visually rich and beautifully acted, has everything", "Review: Disney's live-action remake of 'Mulan' has more swords and sorcery but less magic", "Disney's new Mulan: Pack up, go home, you're through", "How Disney's "Mulan" (2020) fell short of both Western and Eastern audiences' expectations", "People's Choice Awards 2020 Winners: The Complete List", "Disney's controversy-ridden Mulan set to bomb in China", "Disney's Mulan compared with Western Chinese food", "Exceptionally Awful, Shockingly Stupid, and Despicable", Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World, Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, Disney Princess: The Ultimate Song Collection, Disney's live-action/CGI adaptations of animated franchises, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mulan_(2020_film)&oldid=994544351, Films postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Films with screenplays by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2020, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Outstanding Color Grading – Theatrical Feature, Outstanding Visual Effects – Theatrical Feature, Sean Andrew Faden, Diana Giorgiutti, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury, Hubert Maston, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.