Live-action Mulan starts filming in New Zealand
Disney has started filming a live-action version of historical story Mulan on location in New Zealand from a base outside Auckland.
By Nick Goundry 14 Aug 2018
Disney has started filming a live-action version of historical story Mulan on location in New Zealand from a base outside Auckland.
Set in ancient China, the story follows the adventures of young woman Hua Mulan who pretends to be a man in order to join the fight against an invading army.
Disney first turned the story into an animated musical feature back in 1998.
The new movie is using Kumeu Film Studios outside Auckland as its production base, according to New Zealand media outlet Stuff, and scenes will also be shot in China.
Kumeu Film Studios were set up around the production of shark movie The Meg, for which special water tank facilities were built.
“We're pleased to have Disney back filming in the country and building on the longstanding relationship we've had with them through films like A Wrinkle in Time, Pete's Dragon, and all the way back to the Chronicles of Narnia movies,” said Catherine Bates, head of incentives at the New Zealand Film Commission, in comments to the outlet.
Mulan is just the latest story from the Disney back catalogue to get the live-action treatment. Beauty and the Beast was a big hit for the studio last year and new versions of Aladdin and Dumbo are scheduled for release in 2019 following UK shoots. Mary Poppins Returns is out later this year.
Working with filmmaker Jon Favreau, Disney has also produced a remake of The Jungle Book built around photorealistic visual effects and is currently using similar production techniques for a new adaptation of The Lion King.
See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in New Zealand.
Image: Walt Disney Studios
Disney first turned the story into an animated musical feature back in 1998.
The new movie is using Kumeu Film Studios outside Auckland as its production base, according to New Zealand media outlet Stuff, and scenes will also be shot in China.
Kumeu Film Studios were set up around the production of shark movie The Meg, for which special water tank facilities were built.
“We're pleased to have Disney back filming in the country and building on the longstanding relationship we've had with them through films like A Wrinkle in Time, Pete's Dragon, and all the way back to the Chronicles of Narnia movies,” said Catherine Bates, head of incentives at the New Zealand Film Commission, in comments to the outlet.
Mulan is just the latest story from the Disney back catalogue to get the live-action treatment. Beauty and the Beast was a big hit for the studio last year and new versions of Aladdin and Dumbo are scheduled for release in 2019 following UK shoots. Mary Poppins Returns is out later this year.
Working with filmmaker Jon Favreau, Disney has also produced a remake of The Jungle Book built around photorealistic visual effects and is currently using similar production techniques for a new adaptation of The Lion King.
See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in New Zealand.
Image: Walt Disney Studios
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