Lea Salonga Reacts to Disney’s Live-Action “Mulan” Remake
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Heroines are top priority for Disney’s live-action slate. Starting off with Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Cinderella, and the latest, Beauty and the Beast, the studio is putting strong females first.
Screenshot from Crazy-Ex Girlfriend YouTube trailer
It’s no surprise, then, that next on the dock is a live-action version of Mulan. Disney has bought the script from female screenwriters (Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin, with Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa rewriting) and have announced that Kiwi director Niki Caro (Whale Rider) will take the helm.
Caro describes the film as a “big, girly martial arts epic” in an interview with Moviefone. “It will be extremely muscular and thrilling and entertaining and moving.” The film is slated to be released on November 2, 2018.
The biggest news about the upcoming adaptation, however, is that it will not feature the film’s iconic songs. While fans are divided about the news, Lea Salonga is all for it. “Let the film be a different thing altogether.” she tweets. “The original legend of Mulan existed for over 1,000 years without the music. The new film will stand proud and tall without the songs.”
No word yet on the cast, other than the studio is currently conducting a global search, including a new male character rumored to be Mulan’s new love interest. Ms. Salonga also expressed her thoughts on casting, including her wish for “badass” Ming-Na Wen as the Matchmaker, “an Asian actress that’d be believable as a boy or a man”, and “a hunky Shang!”.
Disney has also announced live-action remakes of Lion King, The Jungle Book 2, Aladdin, Dumbo, Christopher Robin, The Little Mermaid, Cruella, Peter Pan, Tink, The Sword in the Stone, Pinocchio, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Check out Lea Salonga’s tweets about “Mulan” below:
So what do I think about the live-action Mulan not having the songs? I think it’s pretty cool! Let the film be a different thing altogether!
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
Or… take a cue or two from Yentl, where the music was organically intertwined with everything. That might be another idea to explore.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
@analette But I would like na it’s not identical to the animated one. Kelangang iba. And please, sexy Asian men!!! Please!!! There’s tons!!!
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
@analette And Ming-Na as the matchmaker. She’s such a badass.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
@analette I’d wait and see. If there are going to be songs, they have to come from an organic place. And hire kickass triple threats.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
I ask for two things from the live-action Mulan: one, an Asian actress that’d be believable as a boy or a man, and a hunky Shang.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
The original legend of Mulan existed for over 1,000 years without the music. The new film will stand proud and tall without the songs.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) March 20, 2017
