19 Super Cool and Interesting Facts About Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan'

If you thought the original was good, buckle your seatbelt

Ariana

• Published in Disney
• September 18, 2020

If you call yourself a Disney lover (or even just someone who enjoys movies) you'll be aware the Disney's 'Mulan' has been re-made into a live-action thriller. The 1998 animated film boasted some of the best Disney moments of all time.

A kick-ass female lead, an incredible and historically centred storyline and a BEYOND catchy soundtrack. In fact, while Christina Aguilera's 'Reflection' was set to be the stand-out musical number of the original film, 'Honor To Us All' and Donny Osmond's 'I'll Make A Man Out Of You' (epic banger!) often top the countdowns for best Disney songs of all time.

The new film is a little less musical and a little more action, but that's totally ok! Change is good!

If you're excited, then buckle your seatbelt and keep scrolling to read 19 super cool facts about the new film that will get you seriously hyped to watch it on Disney+

In true girl-power fashion, 'Mulan' will be the most expensive movie ever to be directed by a female. The budget is around $200 million USD.

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Making Niki Caro (Director) the fifth woman in history to direct a over $100 million movie!

Stunt specialists were brought in from China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Australia and New Zealand to help perfect some seriously cool battle scenes.

The cast even when through 2 months of military training to get the battles scenes just right!

The cool sword work in the film is taken from 'Wushu', a form of Chinese sword-work from martial arts which includes barehand and weapon-play.

There was 4000 weapons made for this film! Including shields, spears, arrow, bows, daggers, swords and tons more. Most are made from aluminium and this likely accounts for that $200 million budget!

There was over 1,000 costumes produced for this films including hats and headpieces, costumes for the villagers and costumes to be worn in the Imperial City. There was almost almost 300 Chinese Army armours made as almost 750 for the Rouran (Huns).

The matchmaker scene is iconic in the original film and will be just as important in the live-action. The dress Mulan wears for this scene boasts over 21 hours of embroidery work.

Certain characters costumes boast animal imagery that were popular during the Tang Dynasty. Tung's armour features turtles while the Emperor's has dragons.

There are over 20 location shots for this film including Mingsha Shan Desert's Singing Sand Dunes, Northwest China's Flaming Mountains, and the National Geological Park in Zhangye Danxia.

Honouring ancient traditions, Niki began filming each day with a Maori (New Zealand's First People) blessing and a Chinese ceremony with incense where offerings with given to ancestors. The final day of filming saw the crew perform a traditional Maori Haka.

Liu Yifei who plays Mulan is MEGA famous in China where she's also referred to as Crystal Liu or 'fairy sister' because she often scores 'angelic' roles.

Böri Khan is played by Jason Scott Lee from 'The Jungle Book' and Jet Li stars as the Emperor.

Liu Yifei is a seriously talented martial artists and was in the 'The Forbidden Kingdom' (2008) with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

Mandy Walker (cinematographer) has revealed that Liu Yifei showcases her physicality in the film, performing about 90% of her own stunts in the movie. Her horseback riding, battle sequences, sword fighting and martial arts will all be showcased.

Director Niki Caro has also revealed she filmed Donnie Yen’s fight sword-fighting scenes in slow-motion because his movements were so precise and quick, that filming them in normal speed didn't showcase them enough.

Unfortunately (for us musical lovers) the movies doesn't feature any singing from the characters but instrumental versions of the classic songs from the original film will play.

'Loyal Brave True' is a special original song written for the film which tells the story of Mulan's journey from girl to soldier from her perspective.

Christina Aguilera, who performed "Reflection" for the 1998 film, has recorded an updated version for the new releases' soundtrack.

Ariana