The live-action Mulan remake has impressed us so far with its trailers, but fans have also noticed certain elements of the original 1998 Disney film that have not made their way into the remake. One element that has puzzled some viewers is the absence of Li Shang, the army captain who also serves as Mulan’s love interest in the film.
According to producer Jason Reed, who spoke with Collider about the character’s absence, Li Shang’s role has been split between two other characters–Commander Tung (Donnie Yen), who is a mentor and “surrogate father” figure to Mulan, and Honghui (Yoson An), a squadmate of Mulan’s.
This was done, Reed says, because of the uneven power dynamics presented by the original relationship in the first film. “I think particularly in the time of the #MeToo movement, having a commanding officer that is also the sexual love interest was very uncomfortable and we didn’t think it was appropriate,” he said.
By splitting the role, Mulan will be able to have a love interest who is not also her superior.
Mulan will be a bit more “mature” than most Disney films, and is their first live-action remake to earn a PG-13 rating. The film’s change in tone means that Mushu, the dragon companion played by Eddie Murphy in the Disney original, will not feature.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Niki Caro reveals that the romance in the film has also been influenced by Chinese test audiences, and that at least one kiss between Mulan and Honghui has been removed from the film. “It was very beautiful, but the China office went, ‘No, you can’t, that doesn’t feel right to the Chinese people,'” she says.
Mulan will release in cinemas on March 27.
