When I graduated high school the moderator at the podium announced my entire name to the crowd. Besides all the cheering, of course, a number of people who knew me for years were surprised that I was named after an animated Disney character. Milan, not Mulan. Dick. It's not Disney, it's a city in Italy or a common Croatian name. True story. But I digress...
Not wanting to wait to see how the live-action Beauty and the Beast does, Disney has announced a number of production updates for the live-action remake of Mulan. They are so confident on their timeline, that they've already slated the film for a November 2nd, 2018 release. With two years and then some, the film will likely be halfway through filming when Emma Watson's Belle tests the box office waters of live-action Disney princesses. With the current script still at spec, the remake currently doesn't have a pot to piss in.
Disney is hoping to change that.
Live-Action Mulan Rewrites and Casting
According to Variety, Walt Disney Pictures has hired Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver to write the Mulan script. If you have never heard of the pair, these are the same scribes who wrote Jurassic World. Considering that the film became box office gold for Universal Pictures, it looks like Disney is in good hands. If you still have doubts, they are also wrote the next two Avatar sequels for James Cameron. So, boom!
While the scribes work, Disney is on the hunt for their reallife Mulan. The studio has to take into account that casting an ethnic character is bound catch the attention of the PC crowd. Take for instance Doctor Strange. Disney thought Tilda Swinton was a safe bet for The Ancient One, and just about every racially sensitive person lost their minds. Feeling left out, Universal Pictures felt like applying a little salt on the wound with Matt Damon in The Great Wall. Now everybody feels like they are taking crazy pills. And I can't help but love it. It's just far too amusing.
But seriously. After all the race complaints, the statistics show that Asians are the least represented in Hollywood based on population. Disney will have a chance to help improve on that statistic with Mulan. On the other hand, I'll be howling if they waffle this opportunity and announce that they cast [insert white actress here].
Mulan Expectations Already High
Though Beauty in the Beast isn't due out until mid-2017, the film's teaser trailer broke records when its trailer was viewed 91.8 million times in the first 24 hours. If this was used as a basis of hype, know that this number bested Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So obviously the demand for live-action Disney characters is there.
Besides, the 1998 animated version went on to earn $304.3 million off a budget of $70 million. The film featured an ensemble cast that included Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, George Takie and many more. I can't remember much from the film, but loved the part when Mulan fires the rocket at the snowbank and Mushu (Eddie Murphy) thinks she missed. Classic. It's Disney, so I'm sure by the end everybody was happy. Except the villain, of course.
One request: Bring back Eddie Murphy to voice Mushu. One suggestion: What about Jamie Chung? We've seen her kick some ass before. Too old? #sigh
Comments