Mulan filmmaker Niki Caro brought new footage for her Disney remake to D23 Saturday, without star Crystal Liu.
D23 comes a week after controversy hit when Mulan star Liu posted on Chinese social media in support of the Hong Kong police force. The post led to backlash within Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protests have been going on for months, and among pro-democracy sympathizers overseas who point to international organizations that have accused the Hong Kong police of brutality and excessive force against peaceful protestors. Disney has remained silent on the issue.
Many, but not all, of the presentations Saturday at D23 featured both the filmmakers and their stars. Caro brought new footage to the confab, including an extended scene in which Mulan is sent to a matchmaker, who concludes Mulan’s family did not raise proper daughters. There’s also an emotional moment in which Mulan decides to take her father’s place in the military, as well as big battle shots with Mulan showing off her military prowess.
“It’s the timeless story we love, but in live action, it’s real,” Caro said. “That’s the thing I’m most excited about. For people to experience her story in a very real, very visceral and a very emotional way.”
The film also stars Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, Chum Ehelepola, Gong Li and Jet Li.
Mulan is set to open March 27, 2020.
