Mulan

[lovevicki]

Kungfu Cinema.com
Vicki Zhao cast in Jingle Ma's 'Hua Mulan'
Film News, News | By Mark Pollard on February 16, 2009

PAINTED SKIN's Vicki Zhao Wei has been selected to star in an upcoming fillm about Chinese folk heroine Hua Mulan, the same figure who inspired Disney's 1998 animated feature MULAN. The news broke at a press conference in Beijing on February 10th where the film's director Jingle Ma announced commencement of production.

Hua Mulan is a war-faring female made famous in a Chinese collection of 12th century lyrics and poetry. When the country is threatened by invaders she sneaks away from home, dresses as a man and joins an all-male army where she eventually has a critical role in defending the nation in a time of war.

A feature film about Mulan has been in development for years with a number of actresses considered for the lead role including Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Liu Yifei before Zhao was finally picked.

Prior to this official announcement, unconfirmed news had previously been leaked that Zhao had been engaged in horseback and combat training in preparation for the role.

Zhao remains best known in the U.S. for her supporting role opposite Stephen Chow in the action comedy SHOALIN SOCCER. As an active Mandarin pop singer and actress, Zhao is one of mainland China's leading female entertainers. In 2008 she has prominent roles in Gordon Chan's PAINTED SKIN and John Woo's RED CLIFF. She is not an action star by trade but has had some screen fighting experience in past film and television roles under the action direction of veterans like Corey Yuen and Ching Siu-tung.

Chen Kun (PAINTED SKIN) will portray Mulan's lover. Child actor Xu Jiao will play the young Mulan and Russian pop singer Vitas will make a cameo.

Jingle Ma is a prominent Hong Kong cinematographer-turned director with past action credits that include HOT WAR, TOKYO RAIDERS, SILVER HAWK, SEOUL RAIDERS, PLAYBOY COPS, and most recently BUTTERFLY LOVERS. His films typically possess high-value production and visual standards.

[lovevicki]

CRIENGLISH
Zhao Wei Is 'Mulan'
2009-02-11 15:07:42 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Xie Tingting

Hong Kong director Jingle Ma thinks mainland actress Zhao Wei is perfect for the role of folk heroine Hua Mulan.

Cast member Zhao Wei promotes the upcoming film "Mulan" at a press conference in Beijing on February 10, 2009. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Hong Kong director Jingle Ma thinks mainland actress Zhao Wei is perfect for the role of folk heroine Hua Mulan.

"Zhao Wei has the qualities necessary to cross-play," Ma told the Beijing Times on Tuesday at a press conference for the film "Mulan", where he announced the start of filming.

Previous media reports suggested that Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Liu Yifei had all been considered for Hua Mulan, a young girl from ancient China's Northern Dynasties, who joined an all-male army to fight the enemies in place of her ailing father.

But the role eventually went to Zhao Wei, whose notable works include "Red Cliff" and "Painted Skin".

The character Hua Mulan was popularized in the West by the 1998 animated Disney film "Mulan".

But director Ma thinks the Hollywood Mulan doesn't match his impression of the heroine. "Zhao Wei's appearance is closer to that in my imagination," Ma says.

Last year, Ma took the directing baton of "Mulan" from Stanley Tong, who was reportedly hoping Zhang Ziyi could play Mulan.

There has been no statement from the film's investors explaining the change in directors.

In the upcoming film, actor Chen Kun will play Mulan's lover. Child actress Xu Jiao will play the young Mulan, and Russian pop singer Vitas is set to make a cameo.

[lovevicki]

TwitchFilm
Feb,12 2009
Zhao Wei recruited to play MULAN
Posted by Al Young at 2:43pm.
Posted in Film News , Drama, Action, Asia.
In our previous reports, there were a number of possible candidate to play the Chinese folk heroine of Hua Mulan, a character popularized in America from the Disney animated film. During the development of the film over the years, Hong Kong director Jingle Ma has since taken over the directing duties from Stanley Tong and at one point or another, Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Liu Yifei, the Asian girl from Harry Potter and even a winner on a singing competition were among those considered to fill the role of a cross-dressing warrior.

According to Crienglish.com, it was officially announced that the title role has finally gone to Zhao Wei (aka Vicki Zhao), the actress who has recently been in another ancient China period piece like Red Cliff and Painted Skin. Also playing Mulan for the child version is Xu Jiao, the unsuspecting looking ¡°boy¡± from CJ7. The other cast member include actor Chen Kun as Mulan¡¯s lover and Russian pop singer Vitas is set to make a cameo appearance.

[lovevicki]

SlashFilm
Zhao Wei to Play Mulan in Live Action Movie
Posted on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm by: Brendon Connelly

Another big screen adaptation of the Hua Mulan story is coming, and director Jingle Ma has cast Zhao Wei, aka Vicky Zhao, in the title role. Twitch directed me to the original story at CriEnglish. Zhao is not only an actress but also a pop singer, as appears to be the norm in Asia.

In essence, the story tells of a young girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to take her ailing father¡¯s place in the army. Most tellings then have her caught in a romantic situation complicated somewhat by her subterfuge. There¡¯s no longer any record of whether the story is a history or an allegory, but it¡¯s great drama in either case.


I¡¯m rather fond of the Disney film. I recall that, in particular, the sequence in which Mulan commits to her decision in the middle of the night is very, very good storytelling. I¡¯ve never seen a line action version of the story however, despite there being several. There¡¯s no doubt that it doesn¡¯t need the added Disney florishes to be compelling and will make for a great film even without grasshopper companions and wisecracking dragons.

[lovevicki]

Mathaba.net


Asia Films Entertainment
comments: 0

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Director: Zhao Wei perfect for `Mulan`
Posted: 2009/02/11
From: Source

Hong Kong director Jingle Ma thinks the Chinese mainland actress Zhao Wei is perfect for the role of folk heroine Hua Mulan.



BEIJING, Feb. 11 -- "Zhao Wei has the qualities necessary to cross-play," Ma told the Beijing Times on Tuesday at a press conference for the film "Mulan", where he announced the start of filming.

Previous media reports suggested that Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Liu Yifei had all been considered for Hua Mulan, a young girl from ancient China's Northern Dynasties, who joined an all-male army to fight the enemies in place of her ailing father.

But the role eventually went to Zhao Wei, whose notable works include "Red Cliff" and "Painted Skin".
The character Hua Mulan was popularized in the West by the 1998 animated Disney film "Mulan".

But director Ma thinks the Hollywood Mulan doesn't match his impression of the heroine. "Zhao Wei's appearance is closer to that in my imagination," Ma says.

Last year, Ma took the directing baton of "Mulan" from Stanley Tong, who was reportedly hoping Zhang Ziyi could play Mulan.

There has been no statement from the film's investors explaining the change in directors.

In the upcoming film, actor Chen Kun will play Mulan's lover. Child actress Xu Jiao will play the young Mulan, and Russian pop singer Vitas is set to make a cameo.

[lovevicki]

Cinempire
Filmsactu.com

Vicki Zhao Wei est Mulan
4
Ciné / News / le 11/02/2009, 14h28
Par Caroline Leroy


Cela fait un bon moment déjà que l'on entend parler d'une adaptation live du conte folklorique chinois Mulan. Restait à trouver un studio déterminé à se lancer dans l'aventure et bien sûr à dénicher l'interprète idéale du rôle convoité de l'intrépide héroïne. C'est aujourd'hui chose faite depuis que la société Starlight International, basée à Pékin, vient d'annoncer qu'elle se chargeait du projet dont le budget est estimé pour l'instant aux alentours de 7,3 millions de dollars. L'actrice Vicki Zhao Wei (Shaolin Soccer, Jade Goddess of Mercy) sera Mulan sous la direction de Jingle Ma (Fly Me to Polaris, Tokyo Raiders), grillant au passage Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh ou Liu Yifei. Le reste du casting principal nous est révélé dans la foulée : Chen Kun (Painted Skin) dans le rôle du général Li Guang, Xu Jia (CJ7) dans celui de la jeune Mulan, et enfin Jaycee Chan (Le Soleil se lève aussi) et le chanteur russe Vitas.



Le tournage de Mulan débutera dans quelques jours, à la mi-février, et se répartira entre la province de Hebei et le nord-ouest de la Chine. Il devrait s'achever vers l'été pour une sortie envisagée à la fin de l'année 2009. Ironiquement, un autre projet consacré à Mulan est en train de se mettre en route simultanément, co-production entre Movie Plus Canada, China Film Group and Xinhua Media Entertainment. On n'en sait pas plus pour le moment...



Sortie Chine : fin 2009