With the box office success of Cinderella, it should come as little surprise that Disney is lining up yet another live-action remake of a title from their animated catalogue. With The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast already in the works, the studio is now settings its sights on a new version of their 1998 film, Mulan.
The Hollywood Reporter has the news, saying that Disney recently snatched up a script by the duo of Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek about the legendary Chinese warrior, Hua Mulan. Chris Bender and J.C. Spink (We’re the Millers) are attached to produce.
The animated version of Mulan, which grossed over $300 million and garnered Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, followed the adventures of a young woman who masquerades as a man in order to become a warrior. With Cinderella raking in more revenue in three weeks than Mulan earned in its entire theatrical run – the film is currently sitting at $336 million – Disney is likely hoping the live-action treatment with a strong female character will resonate with audiences, continuing the trend started by last year’s Maleficent.
But before we get there, we’ll have Jon Favreau’s retelling of The Jungle Book to look forward to next year, featuring a voice cast that includes Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Ben Kinglsey and Bill Murray. And of course, there’s also an update of Beauty and the Beast on the way, with Harry Potter star Emma Watson in the leading role. Production begins later this year under the eye of Bill Condon, with a 2017 release date planned. And let’s not forget the Alice in Wonderland sequel, or the Dumbo remake that Tim Burton will be working on.
There is currently no director attached to Mulan, and we likely won’t know much else until that spot gets filled. In the meantime, check out Cinderella in theaters – seriously, it’s wonderful.