After a long wait, "Disney" Friday releases the live version of "Mulan" with a fully Asian cast on the "Disney Plus" streaming service, in a bold bet on the popularity of home shows Analysts say it will turn the tide in Hollywood.
This film about the famous Chinese warrior, which cost about $ 200 million to produce, was supposed to start showing in March, but from the start it fell victim to the new Corona virus, and this step was postponed several times.
And "Disney" caused a shock last month in the sector, as well as the staff, with the announcement that it will replace the "Mulan" show in cinemas by offering it for home viewing, in light of the unclear scene about the willingness of movie fans to return to the theaters.
Actor Jason Scott Lee, who plays the villain in the movie, said, "I think the decision to show it on + Disney Plus was a big shock to many of us," adding that this work was produced to be shown on big screens. "
"The decision was heartbreaking at first, but after a day or two, I thought about its positive side ... Our responsibilities are growing in light of the Covid-19 epidemic. We want everyone to stay safe," Tazi Ma assured, who plays the role of Mulan´s father, told Agence France-Presse.
This decision, prompted by health concerns, allows for a glimpse of the on-demand watch service that could significantly affect how you watch movies in the future.
Mulan’s launch coincides with Warner Brothers’s weekend show of its massive Tenet production in US theaters, of which 70% have reopened their doors with reduced capacity.
Unlike the latter, which has to share the box office revenue with theaters, Disney will keep all of the revenue from Mulan, which will cost the viewer $ 30 in addition to the registration fee.
Disney has previously produced many films that were released directly in video format, but it has never adopted this approach to work parallel to the cost of Mulan´s budget, and there is no doubt that the Hollywood community will follow these developments cautiously.
"What will happen this weekend may remain etched in the memory forever and could be a turning point for all of Hollywood," said Jeff Bock, a senior analyst at Exibeter Releases, a company that specializes in cinema.
"It is about how the audience will deal with the mass productions in the future," he added.
What made it easier for "Disney" to make this decision is that many of the theaters in China, where "Disney Plus" is not available, have reopened their doors. The film is expected to be released to Chinese cinemas next week.
This film is based on a 1500-year-old Chinese poetic legend about a young woman who replaces her ailing father in the ranks of the imperial army. It is already expected to become one of the most successful "Disney" productions in the Chinese market.
It is also a pioneering work, as the entire cast is Asian or American of Asian descent, a segment of the population that is not represented much in Hollywood, especially the huge ones.
"It is really great for a large studio to place its trust in an Asian or American crew of Asian descent and put all their weight in the work ... It should be an example for us to emulate," said Tze Ma.
The live version of "Mulan" produced by New Zealander Nikki Karoo shows the importance of women´s empowerment, through the physical performance of the heroine Liu Yifai and the addition of a new companion (Jung Lee) that was not mentioned previously.
"I don´t think Nicki just wanted to restore the original," Tse Ma said. "This was not our goal, we took from the legend as the center of our work."
And he added, "I liked the songs ... but they are not what we want."
Initial comments on this work were somewhat positive, as many praised the film´s visual effects and the readers ’keenness to stay away from the animated version, while others criticized the characters’ lack of deep thought and sense of humor.
