Disney’s live-action remake of the 1998 animated musical Mulan promises to be an epic reimagining of the story of Chinese folk legend Hua Mulan, a fictitious character who originated in around 400 A.D.
With a reported budget of approximately $200 million, the new Mulan was shaping up to be one of the biggest cinema releases of 2020. Then the coronavirus pandemic struck and totally messed things up for everybody.
For a while Mulan was floated as one of the first tentpole movies to feature in the reopening of cinemas. But, in the thick of a second wave of the virus outbreak around the world, Disney dramatically changed its strategy.
Instead of opening in cinemas, the film will land in Australia on Disney+ on September 4. On that same date it will be made available in other countries such as New Zealand, the US and the UK.
Rather than being included in the price of a Disney+ subscription, renting Mulan will cost a once-off fee of $30.
That’s a lot more expensive than most online rentals. However families who are used to buying multiple tickets (plus snacks and drinks at the candy bar) might find that price appealing. A strange release strategy for a year strange year.
Directed by New Zealand’s Niki Caro, who is best known for the poetic 2002 film Whale Rider, the cast is led by Chinese actor Liu Yifei in the main role and co-stars Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Jason Scott Lee.
