Jan de Bont to direct live-action Mulan

It was reported back in July that Zhang Ziyi would star/produce  a live-action adaption of Mulan. The film is based off the Chinese folktale, and has been planned for over a year.  Charles Russel was also reportedly in talks to direct the film, but that job has now gone to another director.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jan de Bont (Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) has signed on the direct the film. This will be Bont’s first Independent film. “This is the first independent film directed by Jan de Bont, whose worldwide boxoffice track record is huge,” Easternlight managing director Ying Ye said. Ye also believes that Bont, Ziyi, and the story pitched is “a winning combination.”

Bont is looking to mix action, drama, and romance into John Blickstead’s screenplay. The film will be co-produced by  Movie Plus Productions of Canada, Global Film Finance of the U.K., Beijing-based Bona International Film Group and SIMF Pictures, with Zhang, Ling Lucas and Beaver Kwei. William Morris Endeavor will be handling the North American distribution rights to the film. Production is expected to begin this fall.