MULAN /MEDIA ALERT
Disney presents “Mulan,” a live-action reimagining of the legendary female warrior immortalised in the centuries-old Chinese ballad. Honouring its Chinese roots, the film features an ensemble of ethnically Chinese talent of both established and rising stars.
Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of Mulan to life in an inspiring, thrilling adventure that follows a fearless young woman as she risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. 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. 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. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honoured warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.
“Mulan” features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Tzi Ma as Zhou, Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Honghui; Ron Yuan as Sergeant Qiang; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. The film is directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin, suggested by the narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.” The producers are Chris Bender, Jake Weiner and Jason Reed, with Bill Kong, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Coddington and Mario Iscovich serving as executive producers.
“Mulan” opens in cinemas across the Middle East from September 4, 2020.
Kindly find information regarding the movie, cast and characters and fun facts; and links to download key images, below:
Assets download links:
- Movie stills: HERE
- Poster: HERE
- Mulan Fun Facts: HERE
- Publicity Clips – available upon request
- Advanced Production Notes – available upon request
Trailer
Film Synopsis
- Genre: Adventure
- Rating: PG-13
- Middle EastRelease Date: 4th September 2020
- Cast: Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan, with Gong Li and Jet Li
- Directed by: Niki Caro
- Producers: Chris Bender, p.g.a., Jake Weiner, p.g.a., Jason Reed, p.g.a.
- Executive Producers: Bill Kong, Barrie M. Osborne, Tim Coddington, Mario Iscovich
- Screenplay by: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin
The film began shooting in August 2018, in Auckland, New Zealand. According to director Niki Caro, “the energy on set was overwhelmingly positive.” Continuing, she says, “People loved coming to work. When we first started shooting on day one in New Zealand, we began our shoot in the way I always would on a film shot in New Zealand, which is with a Maori blessing at dawn. It was beautiful but made even more beautiful by the fact that we also had a Chinese incense ceremony, where we gave our offerings to the ancestors. And from that moment on, through the rest of shooting the movie, I think we all did feel protected and very connected.”
Niki Caro and her team made the decision early on to shoot as much as possible on location rather than in studio. “We wanted this movie to feel both epic and realistic, so there was no question that we would try to shoot as much as possible in camera and in real environments,” explains Caro. “That meant we traveled across China to shoot real landscapes, trying to avoid green-screen–built environments.”
Producer Jason Reed concurs: “A lot of movies now, especially big action movies, rely on green screen; they’re done in computers. We felt this movie needed to have the authenticity that comes from shooting in a real location. From the very beginning, we designed ‘Mulan’ to shoot in epic locations throughout China and New Zealand to give the movie the scope and scale the material deserves.”
Some 20 locations in China were used, including Hubei province in central China, the so-called Singing Sand Dunes in the Mingsha Shan Desert in Xinjiang province in the northwest, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in north central China, Flame Mountain in the north, Mazar Village, and Dunhuang and Jiuquan in Gansu province in the northwest, as well as studios in Zhejiang province in eastern China.
The Production’s Story
Inspired by the Chinese “Ballad of Mulan,” the film brings audiences an incredible tale that celebrates the richness of Chinese culture and the power of female strength. A story that is Chinese yet transcends borders, “Mulan” reflects the breadth and depth of Chinese identity. A combination of relatable emotions with awe-inspiring action sequences and breathtaking visuals, “Mulan” is a movie with universal appeal that embodies the timeless themes of honour, family, respect for elders and duty.
Disney first interpreted the story of Mulan as an animated feature in 1998. “Mulan” was a box-office hit as well as a fan favourite and featured Ming-Na Wen as the voice of Mulan.
“The original ‘Ballad of Mulan’ was written centuries ago and has been popular ever since,” says producer Jason Reed. “The animated movie brought it to Western audiences. Now we’re hoping to take elements from the original ballad and the beloved Disney animation and create something that is new and exciting, while honouring the essential elements of this inspiring story. We focused on how someone can embrace bravery, loyalty and duty while still being true to oneself.”
“What stands out about Mulan is her spirit,” adds Reed. “Mulan herself is what draws me to the story. When I watched the original animated film, I loved the locations, I loved the music, I loved the comedy, but what really stuck with me was her character. Even though she’s a woman and Chinese, her struggle spoke to me growing up. How do you fulfill your duty? How do you do what’s right? How do you fit in and how do you find your place? I think those are really important questions, and it’s the foundation on which we built the live-action adaptation.”
Executive producer Bill Kong feels that today’s audiences will be able to easily relate to Mulan, although the exploits of her bravery were first told centuries ago. “Mulan may have existed in stories a long time ago, but her character and her actions reflect women of today. And especially young Chinese women today. What Mulan represents is very much related to today’s world and the way people think today.”
