“Mulan” won’t hit theaters until August but Niki Caro has already lined up her follow-up. She just signed on to direct “Beautiful Ruins,” an adaptation of the 2012 New York Times bestseller of the same name, for Amblin Partners. Variety broke the news.
Set in an Italian seaside village in 1962, the historical novel tells the story of a “charming young man [who] runs a hotel with no guests, until one day an American starlet, fresh from the set of ‘Cleopatra,’ appears and captures his heart. Five decades later in Hollywood, a jaded assistant to a once-powerhouse producer gets caught up in the magic of the Italian’s story, and takes it upon herself to find a happy ending,” the source hints.
Chiara Atik and Mark Hammer are penning the adaptation.
“Mulan” has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The live-action Disney pic is currently slated to hit theaters August 21. Made with a budget of $200 million, “Mulan” currently ranks as the biggest budget film that’s ever been directed by a woman.
“The intimidating thing was my responsibility to the story, to the studio, and to the audience. As far as budget goes, no, I was not intimidated,” Caro told /Film. “With every film I’ve made, ‘Whale Rider’ included, I’ve had a vision that was far bigger than the budget allowed. So this time, to be able to have a budget equal to the very epic vision in my head, was just really satisfying.”
Caro’s feature credits include “McFarland, USA” and “North Country.” She scored a DGA Award for directing Netflix’s “Anne with an E.”
