Disney’s Live-Action Mulan Launches ‘Global Casting Search’ for Chinese Actress

Disney’s 3-D live-action story of the 1998 animated hit Mulan has officially received a release date: November 2, 2018.

It will be exactly twenty years after the original film was released, with the title character voiced by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Ming-Na Wen.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has launched a ‘global casting search for a Chinese actress’ to play the title character. Yes, you read that right. A Chinese Actress.

Like the animated film, Mulan tells the Chinese legend of Fa/Hua Mu Lan, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her aging father’s place in the war against the Huns.

The news comes after the success of many live-action movies retelling the stories of Disney characters such as Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, and Cinderella. With growing anticipation for its upcoming live-action film Beauty and the Beast, which opens March 17, Disney is keeping the trend alive with this announcement.

No director has been announced, but Jurassic World‘s Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver will be rewriting the script which was purchased by Disney in 2015. Jason Reed, Chris Bender, and Jake Weiner will serve as producers.

This announcement comes on the heels of Sony’s decision to make their own live-action version of Mulan. Doug Belgrad, who left Sony back in June, will serve as producer under his company 2.0 Entertainment and announced their plans to shoot in China with a Chinese partner and mostly Chinese cast.

There has been no announcement regarding the casting of the other characters, but many have petitioned for the cast to remain 100% Asian, especially since the story is based in China.

Edit: Author previously stated Doug Belgrad as a producer for the Disney live-action Mulan. Belgrad is producing the Sony live-action version. 

4 thoughts on “Disney’s Live-Action Mulan Launches ‘Global Casting Search’ for Chinese Actress

  1. if it 20 year later just go with Ming. It would be awesome as hell, now as for the rest of the cast if mushu is gonna be in it they better bring back eddie murphy and as for who can play Shang – i dont know but having eddie and ming back would be like a childhood dream come true

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