Disney has finally found a director for its highly-anticipatedMulanremake, with New Zealand filmmakerNiki Carosigning on to take the helm. This news comes just a few months afterAng Leepassed on the project back in October. But now the project is back on the right track. This hiring also makesNiki Carothe second female director at the studio to be at the helm for a project budgeted at over $100 million, following in the footsteps ofAva DuVernayand her filmA Wrinkle In Time. Along with addingNiki Caro, theMulanremake has brought on veteran Chinese producerWilliam Hongas an executive producer.
The Hollywood Reporterreveals that Disney was considering other female filmmakers such asWonder Woman’sPatty Jenkinsand celebrated TV directorMichelle MacLaren(Breaking Bad,Game of Thrones,The Walking Dead). WithNiki Carotaking the reins on this project, that most likely means she’s out of the running to directCaptain Marvel, since a report from August revealed she was one of the front runners, along withLesli Linka Glatter(Mad Men) andLorene Scafaria(The Meddler). The studio is again trying to assure fans that thisMulanmovie will be culturally responsible.
The studio also soughtWen Jiang, who starred inRogue One: A Star Wars Storyand is an accomplished Chinese director, but that didn’t pan out. The project originated from a spec script Disney purchased in 2015 from writersElizabeth MartinandLauren Hynek. Then in October, a report surfaced that the spec script centers on a “30-something European trader who initially cares only for the pleasure of women and money,” who becomesMulan’s love interest. This sparked quite the controversy, forcing Disney to release a statement that all of the main characters in thisMulan remakewill be Chinese.
Rick JaffaandAmanda Silver(Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) were also brought in to rewrite the original spec script Disney bought last year fromLauren HynekandElizabeth Martin. The spec script is said to be a “jumping off point” for a “more nuanced and elaborate adaptation,” that combines elements of the original Chinese ballad with the 1998 animated film. Disney has already set a November 2, 2018release datefor thisMulanremake, putting it up against an untitled Fox/Marvel superhero film and an untitled Paramount event film.Chris Bender,Jason ReedandJake Weinerare producing withWilliam Kongexecutive producing.
The original film followed a young woman who disguises herself as a man so she can take her father’s place in the army and go to war. With the help of her trusty dragon sidekick Mushu, she becomes a skilledChinese warriorand, eventually, one of the country’s greatest heroines. It earned $304.3 million worldwide, earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations and spawned the 2005 direct-to-DVD sequel,Mulan II. Disney is reportedly focusing its casting search in mainland China for the title role and other characters as well. The studio is also bringing in Chinese cultural consultants along with the studio’s own team in China for this new version ofMulan.William Konghas produced some of China’s biggest hits, including films have have had success in the U.S. such asCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,HeroandHouse of Flying Daggers. He has also produced Chinese blockbusters such asMonster Hunt,Wolf TotemandJourney to the West.Niki Caromost recently directedMcFarland USAfor Disney, and her next film,The Zookeeper’s Wife, hits theaters on March 31.
