[ad_1]
The live action version of “Mulan” it finally opens this Friday, but not in theaters, but on the streaming platform of Disney in a gamble that analysts believe could change Hollywood forever.
The $ 200 million film about the legendary Chinese warrior was scheduled to hit the big screen in March, but was one of the first victims of the pandemic, forcing several delays that led to a theatrical release being ruled out.
Last month, still not sure when it would be safe to return to theaters, Disney shook the industry – and the cast of the film itself – by announcing that “Mulan” would premiere on home screens instead.
“The decision to be on Disney + caused a great shock for many of us”said actor Jason Scott Lee, who plays the film’s main villain, adding that the production was “meant to be seen” on the big screen.
“At first it was devastating,” Tzi Ma, who plays Mulan’s father, told AFP. “But after a day or so, I thought on the bright side… with covid-19, our responsibilities grow. We want to keep everyone safe. “
In addition to concerns about the public’s health, Disney conducts an on-demand display experiment that can dramatically alter the way people watch movies.
“Mulán” comes out the same weekend that Warner Bros premieres its science fiction film “Tenet” in theaters in the United States that have opened (70% of the total at reduced capacity).
Unlike the rival studio, which will have to split box office revenue with theaters, the Mickey Mouse studio will keep 100% of the proceeds from “Mulan,” which will cost $ 30 additional to the Disney + subscription.
Although Disney has produced several films for home consumption, it never did so with a production of this size, and Hollywood is watching nervously.
“What happens this weekend can be remembered forever, it can be a turning point for all of Hollywood as we move into the future,” said Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock, who tracks industry revenue. .
“It’s about how audiences are going to digest future blockbuster entertainment.”
– “Reference point” –
Helping the decision was the fact that in China, where Disney + is not available, many cinemas have reopened and release the movie next week.
Based on a 1,500-year-old Chinese ballad about a young woman who takes the place of her ailing father in the imperial army, “Mulan” was already expected to be one of the biggest Disney movies on the Chinese market.
“Mulán” is innovative in other respects.
The entire cast is Asian or Asian American, a demographic underrepresented in Hollywood, especially in big-budget mega-productions.
“It is extremely important that a large studio is confident that an all-Asian, Asian-American cast will give them strength and financial support,” Ma said.
“It should be a benchmark. It should be something that the world can see, that this is viable. “
The wise dragon Mushu, portrayed by Eddie Murphy, in the 1998 animated film, does not appear in this version.
Neither do musical numbers and romantic plots.
New Zealand director Niki Caro (“The Legend of the Whales”) chose a more mature tone, with beautifully choreographed fight scenes and landscapes reminiscent of “The Tiger and the Dragon.”
The theme of female empowerment is also visible, both in the physical capacity of the star Yifei Liu, and in the introduction of a mysterious new female villain (Gong Li).
“I don’t think Niki wanted to do a remake,” Ma said. “That wasn’t what we were trying to do. We wanted to connect the original ballad with our focal point ”.
“I loved the songs … but it was not our goal here.”
Initial reviews have been cautiously positive: many praising the film’s striking visuals and willingness to stray from animation, but some criticizing the lack of emotion or humor in the script.
For the cast, after months in limbo, the film’s long-awaited release is cause for celebration.
“It’s been so long, I feel like the movie had been caged and just needed to be released,” Lee said.
“I needed to have wings … and let people see it in any format.”
[ad_2]
