This is a big weekend for Hollywood newcomer Jun Yu as the long-awaited live-action remake of the animated classic Mulan hits Disney+ and select theaters.

Yu plays the role of Cricket, who was an actual insect in the 1998 film. This time, he plays the character reimagined as a young boy who joins alongside lead character Mulan in the Emperor's army.

The actor told Cheddar this was not only his first major role — it was also his first professional audition. "To have gotten this role is truly a blessing, and I'm honored," Yu said.

When asked about differences between the new live-action film and the animated version he said, "I think our director had a good sense of direction of where she wanted to go. And so it made it very easy and very clear to follow her vision."

Still, he drew inspiration from the first movie. "Watching the original film, for me, it helped out a lot to really grab the essence of Cricket, who in the animated film and in this one, has a lot of innocence and purity, and that's what I really wanted to bring forth from the animated one to this one.'

Due to the coronavirus, productions and release dates in Hollywood were halted or postponed over the last several months. Mulan was originally slated for a March 27 debut but saw its opening pushed back several times. Ultimately, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced during an earnings call last month that the film would finally be released Labor Day weekend, but would be an added purchased on the company's streaming service. 

Now Disney+ is betting movie fans will find the $29.99 price tag a small price to pay as the film industry slowly gets back to business.

Share:
More In Culture
Outlines Raises $1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding & Unveils Flagship Product, The Shower Liner System
Home essentials maker Outlines announced its launch at the beginning of 2022, along with $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Social Impact Capital. Outlines says it is re-imagining how we keep our homes clean while also reducing plastic waste. The company's debut product, the Shower Liner System, is made of long-lasting materials, including easy-to-recycle plastic. Outlines co-founder and CEO Luke Young and co-founder and COO Megan Ceryanec joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
NCAA Updates Policy For Transgender Student Athletes
The NCAA has updated its policy on transgender athletes, allowing each sport’s national governing body to make its own decisions for transgender participation. The new rule is in line with recent changes from the U.S. and International Olympic and Paralympic Committees. Joanna Hoffman, communications director of Athlete Ally, joined Cheddar News to discuss the potential impact of the new rule on the transgender community.
Will Forte to Host SNL With Musical Guest Måneskin
"Saturday Night Live" alum Will Forte is hosting the late-night comedy show this weekend alongside musical guest, Måneskin. Forte, who spent a decade working on the iconic NBC show, is currently starring in "MacGruber," the SNL-sketch-turned-movie that is now streaming on Peacock as a tv series.
TikTok to Test Paid Subscription Model on Its Platform
TikTok recently announced that it is testing a paid subscription model. The news comes days after Instagram publicized a similar service. TikTok has made $2.3 billion from in-app purchases, but mostly through tips, in 2021, showing that its users may be open to spending money on the platform.
Boise City Sees Fastest U.S. Job Opening Growth According To Indeed
If you are looking for a new job, you might want to start looking in a different city. A new report from indeed reveals how certain metro areas are seeing faster growth in job openings than others. Economist at Indeed Hiring Lab AnnElizabeth Konkel, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Why Netflix Stock Is Taking a Beating Despite Q4 Earnings Beat
Netflix beat its earnings projections for Q4 — but the stock still plummeted as the streaming pioneer cut back on its forecast for future subscribers. Michael Robinson, the chief technology strategist at Money Map Press, joined Cheddar to discuss the report and what's driving the downward pressure on its shares. "It's the growth is really what's worrying people," he said. "'A' we have slowing economic growth, and 'B' we've got slowing growth for this company, as 'C' we have an increase in competition."
Load More