“It’s like going to graduate school, but they’re writing the curriculum as you’re doing it,” explained Mulan producer, Jason Reed as the $200 million epic debuts on the streamer for $29.99.
“It’s like going to graduate school, but they’re writing the curriculum as you’re doing it,” explained Mulan producer, Jason T. Reed. The live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1998 animated film of the same name, based on the Chinese folklore, has finally been released after multiple release date changes and shifts in the platform. “To be perfectly honest, there’s a bit of disappointment when you set out to make a movie, everybody delivered in every category, and then the conversation becomes about the business model, the distribution approach, and the history that you’re part of, as opposed to the creative achievement of the movie,” he mused. “That said, if you’re going to change it up and be in the middle of a new sort of trend, you’ve got to step up and change it up. In the industry, it’s pretty interesting to be on the inside and see the differences in marketing approach, the differences in how the communication strategy works, and how you connect with audiences and how audiences respond to the movie in different formats.” Mulan has been released on Disney+ via the new Premier Access model for an additional $29.99 fee on top of the standard subscription. Once purchased, the audience can watch it as many times as they want. Alternatively, they can wait under December to watch it when it will be included as part of the subscription. Does this mean Mulan will never get a theatrical release in the US? “Hopefully not,” Reed hoped. “I’m excited for audiences to get to see it on a big screen. When we approached Disney, we wanted to make an epic movie under the Disney brand. I think the movie’s strength is the personal journey and the emotional connection that Mulan makes, particularly with her family. So we’re in a privileged position in that, even though families will be watching it on a smaller screen, our greatest asset is still going to be highlighted. On some of these movies I’ve worked on, if you’re not seeing the spectacle, it’s not a movie you have to run out and see. With Mulan, the spectacle is a great add on to what is fundamentally an emotional journey.
