Zhang Ziyi shot to fame a few years back with the wushu triple-whammy of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero and House of Flying Daggers. She followed up those martial arts epics with solid work in Memoirs of a Geisha, since when we have seen very little of her.
Likewise, after bursting onto the scene with the taut action-thriller “Speed”, director Jan De Bont made increasingly inferior and disappointing films (Speed 2: Cruise Control, The Haunting, Tomb Raider 2) before disappearing completely in 2003.
Now we hear from First Showing that Zhang Ziyi and De Bont are joining up on a new live-action version of Mulan, the story (best known to us perhaps from the Disney version from the late 90’s) of a young female warrior who joins an all-male army. The story dates back to the 6th century, although it has been set in a variety of different time periods, so it will be interesting to see precisely what historical backdrop and context De Bont and novice screenwriter John Blickstead give the film.
In all honesty, Zhang Ziyi seems like an excellent and obvious fit. We know she can handle the action sequences and physical direction that will be needed, but that she can be vulnerable, affecting and brittle when she needs to be as well. De Bont feels like much more of a risk. He has not directed at all for seven years and his last three directorial outings were stone-cold turkeys. Added to that, the little directorial pedigree he has is in the action genre, making it easy to see this sort of historical epic as well outside his comfort zone.
Throw in an untried screenwriter and we could have a train-wreck on our hands. Having said that, Speed was made by a novice director, written by a relatively inexperienced writer and starred an actor best known for playing a surfer-dude. Lightning might yet strike twice.
What do you think, colossal risk, calculated gamble or smart move? Let us know in the comments below.
