Disney’s upcoming live-action Mulan remake will not feature the talking dragon Mushu. Set to release on March 27, Mulan is the latest in Disney’s long line of live-action remakes, with the original animated feature coming in 1998. Mulan tells the tale of Fa Mulan, who disguises herself as a man in order to take the place of her sickly father in war against the invading Huns. Although her military skills are initially lacking, Mulan develops into a brave and cunning fighter, even after her deception is revealed to her fellow soldiers.
In the original, Mulan’s grandmother prays to their ancestors to help Mulan, and they send her Mushu, the family’s dragon, voiced by Eddie Murphy. Mushu, tiny and goofy, provides comic relief throughout the film, but also contributes significantly to the film’s plot. He provides the fake order for Mulan and the other recruits to follow the army into the mountains. Mushu also fires a rocket that defeats Shan Yu, the film’s main antagonist. The dragon’s constant stream of gags in one of the more serious Disney features made him a fan favorite that many hoped would make the transition into the live-action adaptation of Mulan.
According to Digital Spy, director Niki Caro revealed that Mushu would not be appearing in the remake. “I think we can all appreciate that Mushu is irreplaceable,” said the New Zealander during a footage reveal. “You know, the animated classic stands on its own in that regard.” Disney movies usually have some sort of animal companion to the protagonist, like Ariel’s best fishy friend Flounder in 1989’s The Little Mermaid and Abu, the loyal monkey, in Aladdin. Caro confirmed that her take on the Chinese myth would follow in this Disney tradition in some capacity. “In this movie, there is a creature representative–a spiritual representation of the ancestors, and most particularly of Mulan’s relationship with her father. But an update of Mushu? No.” Some eagle-eyed fans had theorized that a phoenix seen in the Mulan trailer could be a new version of Mushu, but Caro clarified that this was not the case, explaining the symbolism of the phoenix: “So, on the left and right hand of the emperor there is a dragon. The dragon is representative of the masculine, and the phoenix is representative of the feminine. In a movie, in a story that so much explores gender fluidity, I thought that that was a really nice and appropriate way to go.”
The axing of Mushu is not the only difference between the remake and the original 1998 Mulan. The musical numbers have been cut, and the aforementioned trailer showcased a new villain, a witch named Xian Lang, which differs from both the animation and the Chinese myth. Mulan has also been given a sister, a first for any adaptation of the story. Some aspects remain the same between the versions, however, including the matchmaker sequence from the beginning of the 1998 original. “The matchmaker sequence from the animation, we were very, very faithful to that idea,” explained Caro. A more positive difference is the inclusion of an all-Asian cast.
Mulan has gained a cult following since its release, and while the new remake is highly anticipated, it is not without its risks. The film is said to be the most expensive Disney movie ever made, and rising political tensions with Hong Kong have led to calls to boycott the new Mulan. Nevertheless, Caro and Disney seem committed to raising the action and drama, and a talking dragon would clash with the vision. However, even without Mushu, fans are looking forward to the release of Disney’s new Mulan.
Key Release Dates
Mulan
Release Date:2020-09-04
