Live-action ‘Mulan’ film now has a director

Disney has tapped a director for its upcoming live-action “Mulan” movie.

Helming the film will be Niki Caro, a native of New Zealand known for the critically acclaimed 2002 film “Whale Rider,” a drama about a Maori family. More recently, she directed the movie “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” whose set was praised by its lead star, Jessica Chastain, for its gender inclusivity.

Also joining “Mulan” is Bill Kong as executive producer. Kong co-produced 2000’s multi-awarded wuxia film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” He was also behind other cinematic gems such as “Hero,” “House of Flying Daggers,” “Wolf Totem,” “Journey to the West,” “and “Monster Hunt.”

Previously, Disney and Caro collaborated on 2015’s “McFarland, USA,” a cross-country drama. To prepare for the film, Caro spent close to a year in a Mexican-American community in central Californa.

Caro will become the second woman to direct a Disney movie with a budget of more than $100 million. The first was Ava DuVernay, who is directing the upcoming “A Wrinkle in Time.”

Disney previously considered a number of women to lead the project, such as Patty Jenkins, who directed the upcoming “Wonder Woman”; Michelle MacLaren, who directed a number of “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad,” and “The Walking Dead” episodes; frequent “Homeland” director Lesli Linka Glatter; and Lorene Scafaria, who was responsible for 2012’s “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.” Caro’s “Mulan” involvement will likely mean she won’t be directing Disney’s first superheroine movie, “Captain Marvel.”

Disney initially wanted “Mulan” to be helmed by an Asian director, and sought out Ang Lee and Jiang Wen for the role. Both, however, passed on the project. Nevertheless, Disney as well as the movie’s producers Chris Bender, Jake Weiner, and Jason Reed mean for “Mulan” to be culturally authentic. It is for this reason that the studio recruited Kong as “Mulan’s” executive producer, as well as why it is working closely with its Chinese team. Disney is also in extensive discussions with cultural consultants from China.

The live-action “Mulan” was recently embroiled in controversy when Disney reportedly purchased a spec—penned by Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin—that revolved around a white male protagonist and other non-Chinese characters.

Disney immediately responded by stating the movie’s primary characters will all be Chinese. It has also been rewritten by Rick Jaffa and Amada Silver, who worked on the “Jurassic World” script.

No one has been cast for the lead and supporting roles yet, but Disney’s search has taken it to mainland China.

“Mulan” is a remake of the 1998 animated classic of the same name. — BM, GMA News