Music will play a part in live-action Mulan

Director Niki Caro says that there will be music in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s Mulan.

Though it was previously reported that this version of Mulan will not be a musical like its animated counterpart, Screen Rant reports that music will still be an important element. Previously, Mulan starred Ming-Na Wen as the voice of the titular character, with Broadway star Lea Salonga as her singing voice.

Caro discussed this project while doing press for her latest film, The Zookeeper’s Wife (starring Jessica Chastain):

“The live-action is based on that inspirational Chinese ballad and on the animated Disney classic. We’re still exploring the role that music’s going to play in it, but for sure there will be music.”

She also added that she was determined for the film to be culturally authentic:

“In all my work that is centered in cultures not my own, I hope that comes through, because that is incredibly important to me. When I made Whale Rider, I saw that to be specific and authentic is to be universal, and I’ve continued to work in an identical way ever since. As the projects get bigger, the more certain I am that cultural authenticity and specificity is the only way to approach my work.”

Caro’s body of work includes North Country (starring Charlize Theron and earning her a Best Actress Oscar nomination), McFarland, USA, and Whale Rider (starring Keisha Castle Hughes, nominated for a Best Actress Oscar).

Mulan is just the latest Disney film to be adapted into a live-action version, following the successes of Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, Pete’s Dragon, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Maleficent, and Cinderella. Other projects in the works include The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and a sequel to Mary Poppins.

Mulan is set to be released on November 2, 2018.