Action Star Donnie Yen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) has joined the cast of Disney’s live-action “Mulan,” an individual with knowledge of the project tells TheWrap.
Yen will play Commander Tung in remake of 1998 Disney animated film.
Niki Caro is directing the film, which stars Chinese actress Liu Yifei in the title role. Jason Reed, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing, and Bill Kong is executive producing.
Disney’s live-action version of the classic Disney tale comes on the heels of various revival projects like “The Jungle Book” and “Beauty and the Beast,” both of which grossed over $1 billion worldwide. “Beauty and the Beast” grossed $174.8 million its opening weekend alone. A remake of “The Lion King” is one of many upcoming live-action projects.
The animated “Mulan,” released in 1998, was based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan and was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. It grossed $304.3 million worldwide after earning $22.7 million its opening weekend.
Yen was the martial arts choreographer for 2000’s “Highlander: Endgame” and 2002’s “Blade II,” appearing in both of those films as an actor, as well. He also starred opposite Jackie Chan in 2003’s “Shanghai Knights.”
Yen made his movie debut in the 1984 Hong Kong film “Drunken Tai Chi” and came to wider attention with his portrayal of Nap-lan Yun-seut in 1992’s “Once Upon a Time in China II.” His international breakthrough came playing the title character in 2008’s “Ip Man,” based on Wing Chun grandmaster — and Bruce Lee’s teacher — Yip Man. He reprised that role in 2010’s “Ip Man 2” and last year’s “Ip Man 3,” where Yen starred opposite boxing legend Mike Tyson – and accidentally broke the champ’s finger during a fight scene.
Yen is repped by CAA, Bullet Films, and Bloom Hergott.