Just yesterday came word that Donnie Yen would be joining the cast of Disney's new Mulan. The ensemble is growing yet again, with The Hollywood Reporter learning that Gong Li and Jet Li will also be seen on screen.
And from the sounds of it, there will be definite changes to the plot from the animated version, itself inspired by the legend of Hua Mulan. Liu Yifei is playing the young woman who disguises herself so she can take her elderly father's place when the emperor of China decrees that one male from each household must be conscripted to swell the ranks of the army. Gong Li is playing the main antagonist, a powerful witch with designs on the country, which is a switch, along with the addition of a sister for Mulan, to be played by Chinese-Vietnamese actress Xana Tang.
As for Jet Li, he's on to be the emperor, while the aforementioned Yen plays Mulan's mentor, Commander Tung. Niki Caro is putting the pieces in place to direct the new film, which will march on to screens in 2020.
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