Still image of the live-action version of Disney's Mulan, featuring Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei, which will be screened in March. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Horn points out filmgoers have a certain expectation of the Disney brand, no matter what culture they depict, "Audiences may not always know what they are going to see, but they know what they are not going to see. The Disney brand conveys a certain responsibility to the public, to parents and families, to make them feel safe."

When asked if Disney has any plans to do more Chinese stories, Horn says: "The China market is obviously a large and important one, and we care about the Chinese people and their history and traditions, so we will certainly continue to explore what other Chinese stories and legends might have universal appeal that we could bring to the screen."

He says: "We could run out of Marvel stories, so we are interested in stories from all over the world that can show us something different and special."

He notes that it's important to make movies that "have lasting value, that mean something and that touch people". Smiling, he adds, "And it never hurts to be funny."