Well here’s fine piece of casting news to close out the day! Disney’s live-actionMulanmovie has recruited international action star and ass-kicker extraordinaireDonnie Yen. Per Deadline, Yen will take on the role of Commander Tung, a mentor and teacher to Mulan.
The remake of the beloved Disney animated film recruited Chinese actressLiu Yifeilast year to star in the title role as the legendary warrior, and Yen is the first major addition since that announcement. A number of key roles still need to be cast before the film heads into production, including the male lead Shang, the villainous Shan-Yu, and Mulan’s dragon Mushu – assuming all those characters carry over to the live-action remake.Whale RiderandThe Zookeeper’s WifehelmerNiki Caro is set to direct from a script byLauren Hynek,Rick Jaffa,Amanda SilverandElizabeth Martin.
Yen previously worked with Disney on theStar WarsprequelRogue One: A Star Wars Story, which saw him take on the role of a blind warrior fuelled by faith in the Force. He’s become more of a household name in the states over recent years after films likexXx: Return of Xander Cageand Netflix’sCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. Overseas, Yen has one of the most accomplished, impressive careers as a martial arts performer and actor, dating back to the 1988 action filmTiger Cageand including the instant classic martial arts franchiseIp Man, which is ongoing. He’s a perfect choice for the role of a warrior’s mentor, and his inclusion in the film has seriously piqued my interest. Previous reports said that the film might scrap the animated version’s musical elements, and if Yen’s on board, this could turn out to be a lot more action-packed than I was expecting. Cue extreme hype.
Mulan is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 03, 2025.
You can get caught up on all of Disney’s planned live-action remakes in ourrelease calendar, for check out more of the latest news in the links below.
