Film version of "Mu Lan" in the works

Since a few years back, Stanley Tong and Michelle Yeoh had announced their intentions to film live action versions of Hua Mu Lan, but for whatever reasons, neither versions have come into being.

And now, Jingle Ma intends to shoot his version of Mulan in Hong Kong in February 2009, possibly starring Singapore singer Stefanie Sun Yan Zi and Louis Koo. The budget is around 50m yuan, and the film is being produced by Mainland film companies. Stefanie Sun's friend says that they are in negotiations, but nothing is finalised yet.

Disney, which made the hit animation Mulan in 1998, is also planning a live adaptation, budgeted at US$120m. Script was being written two years back. They hope to cast Zhang Ziyi and Donnie Yen in the leading roles, and hope to get Johnnie To to direct.

Johnnie To, having other commitments, would only be available towards the end of 2009. He says that he hasn't decided if he'd take up the offer.

Donnie Yen says that last year, he was indeed being approached to play General Li Guang alongside Zhang Ziyi , but hasn't heard any further word from them. He does not have any idea on when it'd begin production, but looks forward to it, nevertheless. Lianhe Wanbao