Activists call for Mulan boycott after Disney offers film on streaming platform

Walt Disney Co.'srelease of Mulan,which is set in China and meant to appeal toaudiences there, has provoked a backlash on social media overits star's support of Hong Kong police and for being partlyfilmed in the Xinjiang region.

Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and internet usersin Taiwan and Thailand are among those who promoted hashtags"#BoycottMulan" and "#BanMulan" on Twitter, following thismonth's launch of the film on Disney's streaming platform.

It will also be shown in cinemas in China an increasinglyimportant market for Hollywood studios from Sept 11.

Criticism of the live-action remake of a 1998 animatedversion began last year when Mulan's star, mainland Chinese-bornactress Liu Yifei, expressed support on social media for policein Hong Kong, which was roiled at the time by anti-governmentunrest.

Liu did not immediately respond to a request for comment viaher account on Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging site.

Criticism from governments, human rights groups

Calls for people to boycott the film gathered pace this weekover its links to the western region of Xinjiang, where China'sclampdown on ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims has beencriticized by some governments, including the United Statesandhuman rights groups.

Several state organizations in Xinjiang appeared in thefilm's credits, according to social media posts.

WATCH |Disney's Mulan faces backlash for praising agencies behind Uighar camps:

Disneys Mulan faces backlash for praising agencies behind Uighar camps

4 years ago

Duration 1:55

Disneys remake of the animated classic Mulan is drawing criticism for praising agencies thought to be running detention camps targeting the countrys Muslim ethnic minority, the Uighars.

"In the new #Mulan, @Disney thanks the public securitybureau in Turpan, which has been involved in the internmentcamps in East Turkistan," the Munich-based World Uyghur Congresstweeted on Monday.

Asked about the reaction to the film's Xinjiang shooting, Foreign Ministry spokespersonZhao Lijian restated Beijing's denialof the existence of re-education camps in the region, callingfacilities there vocational and educational institutions andaccusing anti-China forces of smearing its Xinjiang policy.

"What Beijing is trying to do globally, is for people to think that Xinjiangis just another region," said Isaac Stone Fish, senior fellow at the non-profit Asia Society, in an interview with CBCNews. "And engagement with companies like Disney does help carry that message globally."

Disney, Fish said, had many other options of where to film, and it's unclear why it chose to work inXinjiang specifically.

The reaction Disney is receivingwill likely influence other American companies'decisions on whether to work with the Chinese Communist Party, he said.

"What's very fascinating to see, is whether or not the backlash engendered by this filmis going to be worse for the party than what is needed for them."

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The movie, reported to have cost $200 million US to produce,had been scheduled to reach theatres in March, but its releasewas delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last month, Disney said Mulan would skip most theatres andgo directly to its Disney+ platform.

However, it is set to premiere in Chinese cinemas fromFriday, and the studio hopes it will do better than the animatedversion more than 20 years ago.

That release was delayed after Disney's relations with Chinasoured over Kundun,its 1997 movie based on the life of theexiled Dalai Lama, whom China has branded a dangerousseparatist.

In February, director Niki Caro told The Hollywood Reporterthat Disney had tested the film with Chinese audiences, removinga kissing scene between Mulan and her love interest afterfeedback from its Chinese executives.