It is not to premiere yet until
next year, but already Disney’s live-action adaptation of its 1998 animated
classic “Mulan” has been put through a lot. At first it was minor in-universe
issues such as the replacement of the animated version’s protecting dragon
spirit by a phoenix. Then there was the controversy when the remake’s lead star
Liu Yifei expressed support for the Hong Kong police during the ongoing
pro-democracy protests, souring the local residents on supporting the film on
cinemas. But Disney has persevered in promoting the movie regardless of
setbacks. After presenting an initial teaser in July, a longer trailer has been
revealed.
Variety tells us that a full trailer was released by Disney this
Thursday, December 5, to showcase more of the live-action remake for “Mulan,”
their animated classic movie from 1998. After the fleeting scenes from the teaser
almost half a year ago, getting more information out of how the movie adapts
the original was refreshing.
The trailer starts with Hua Mulan
(Liu Yifei) discussing the figure of the phoenix with her father Hua Zhou (Tzi
Ma). Zhou explains the phoenix’s role as guardian to the Emperor of China,
while Mulan’s role is simply to honor the family by getting a good marriage.
This idyllic situation is interrupted when word comes of northern barbarians launching
an invasion of China, led by warmongering Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee) and his
mysterious witch advisor Xian Lang (Gong Li). When the aged and lame Zhou tries
to answer the Imperial call for a man from each family to serve in the army of
the Emperor (Jet Li), Mulan secretly takes his place, just like in the 1998 animated
version.
Already the new scenes showcased
in this trailer provide some answers to the changes made from animated to
live-action “Mulan.” The talk about the phoenix sets up how Mulan’s spirit
guardian is now that (since her actions will protect the Emperor) instead of a
dragon, though fans of Eddie Murphy’s Mushu from the original version might not
be mollified, more so that the film has no musical numbers in it. It also
features the witch Xiang Lang shape-shifting into a falcon, recalling the
right-hand bird of the animated film’s big bad, called Shan Yu. She also serves
as a more prominent antagonist to Mulan, intimating to her that once her fellow
soldiers and superiors learn that she is disguised as a man, they will execute
her for breaking the law.
Niki Caro directs this upcoming
Disney live-action adaptation which also stars Donnie Yen, Yoson An and Nelson
Lee. “Mulan” premieres next year on March 2020.
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