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Mulan type Movie genre Animated

Family

The next Mulan promises to pack some serious punches. Niki Caro (Whale Rider), who will direct Disney’s upcoming live-action movie, called the remake “a girly martial arts extravaganza” during a new interview.

“I haven’t started yet so I can’t give you any real detail,” Caro told ScreenCrush while promoting her latest film, The Zookeeper’s Wife. “But the budget and the location and the story [are] offering such scope to me for [an] incredible, muscular piece of girly martial arts extravaganza in China. And I can’t wait.”

“I’ve got my little girl, she’s 9,” Caro added. “We’re going to start learning mixed martial arts in preparation.”

It’s still unclear whether the film will be more of a musical — like the live-action Beauty and the Beast — or with a few songs sprinkled in — like The Jungle Book. (In a separate interview with Moviefone, Caro addressed the question: “From what I understand, no songs right now, much to the horror of my children.”) But, despite classics like “Reflection” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” Mulan already isn’t an average Disney princess; the young woman, who enters the army disguised as a man in place of her aging father, would rather swing a sword than twirl a gown.

Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) will executive produce the live-action film, based on a script by Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek that was rewritten by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Jason Reed, Chris Bender, and Jake Weiner are producing.

Mulan is scheduled for release on Nov. 2, 2018.