Disney’s Mulan, the live action adaptation of the 1998 animated film, has cast Chinese actress Liu Yifei in the lead role. Liu Yifei began acting in 2002 and has appeared in films alongside Jackie Chan and Jet Li in The Forbidden Kingdom, and Donnie Yen in Ip Man 3. This adaptation, directed by Niki Caro (The Zookeeper’s Wife), will combine the legend described in the Ballad of Hua Mulan and Disney’s animated feature. No other cast has been announced as of yet.
In an industry often criticized for whitewashing, it is good news to see one of the biggest production companies making diverse and accurate casting choices. There have been many instances of companies facing public backlash in recent years for casting white stars in non-white roles. Scarlett Johansson appeared as a Japanese character in the live action adaptation of Japanese manga, Ghost in the Shell. 2016’s The Great Wall also faced criticism for whitewashing, and is a good example of the white savior complex in film. Disney appears to be taking steps to do Mulan justice and hopefully the success of this film can set a strong precedent for diverse casting. It was also announced last year that Mulan will not have a white love interest.
