Eddie Murphy Barred Music from 'Mulan' and Made Disney Change the Film: The Scene He Refused to Do

When Disney produced the animation "Mulan", released in 1998, the writers and composers imagined that Mushu, the little dragon played by Eddie Murphy, would have his own musical moment. After all, the studio's classic formula in the 1990s included characters singing memorable songs, something that helped turn films like "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" into worldwide phenomenons. But there was an unexpected problem: Eddie Murphy completely refused to sing. According to composer Matt Wilder, two songs were written for Mushu. One of them was described as a fun and energetic track, created especially to take advantage of the character's mood. However, Murphy rejected all attempts to include him in a musical number. The team tried to find alternative solutions. At one point, the producers suggested that he use an approach similar to his famous James Brown imitations, mixing lines and sung parts. Even that didn't work. The actor's response was definitive: he simply didn't want to sing. The decision drew attention because Murphy had already released music albums during his career. Even so, he showed no interest in transforming Mushu into another Disney singing character. The result was an important change in the film. While practically all of the main characters participate in the animation's songs, Mushu remained without any of his own music. Interestingly, the absence of a musical number didn't hurt the character. On the contrary. Mushu ended up becoming one of the most popular elements of "Mulan", being remembered to this day for his humor, sarcasm and charisma. Decades later, the story remains one of the most interesting curiosities behind the scenes at Disney and shows how a single decision by a star can significantly alter the creative direction of a major film production.