The story of Mulan is to be brought to the screen in a $30 million live-action film.

Xinhua Media Entertainment and the China Film Group have joined up with MoviePlus and Arclight to bring the story to life, according to Empire.

The traditional Chinese tale, which became popular in the 1998 Disney animation of the same name, tells of a woman who pretends to be a man in order to take her father's place in the army and bring her family honour.

Shooting for the new version is to begin in the spring of 2009.