Previous reports indicated Walt Disney Pictures would be backing an upcoming live-action film based on the classic Chinese tale Mulan featuring actress Zhang Ziyi however recent reports announcing Jan de Bont will direct the film indicate that it is an independent production that 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.