Drunken Master director to take on Mulan

Variety reports that Hong Kong director Jingle Ma, best known for the Jackie Chan classic martial arts films Drunken Master II and Rumble in the Bronx, as well as Jet Li’s The Legend, confirmed that he will be directing a live-action version of Mulan, the historical project about legendary warrior princess Hua Mulan.

The story of Mulan follows a Chinese maiden who secretly goes to war in her elderly father’s place and becomes one of China’s greatest heroes in the process. Disney’s 1998 animated film, directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, was an international success, but according to the report, was only marginally successful in China, with many feeling it should have been done at that time by Asian filmmakers.

The director says that the project is due to begin lensing in February but was unable to give any more details for contractual reasons. There’s also no word on if the movie will be heavy on martial arts or more traditional swordplay, but with Ma at the helm, expect an action-heavy epic.