Disney Chooses Liu Yifei to Play Mulan in Live Action Film

von Clayton Davis

Chinese actress Liu Yifei will play Mulan in the upcoming Disney live-action remake, according to Deadline.

The actress has appeared in a number of films in the booming Chinese market. She will also star next year in the film, "Inversion." The film is directed by Peter Segal ("50 First Dates") and stars Samuel L. Jackson.

"Mulan" was an animated 1998 film about a young woman who disguises herself as a man to fight in the Chinese army in order to protect her ailing father. Ming-Na Wen voiced Mulan originally. That film grossed more than $300 million worldwide and went on to do even better in VHS and, later, DVD sales.

This is one of a number of planned live-action remakes of classic animated Disney films.  "Dumbo," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King" are all in various stages of development or production. Their updated installment of "Beauty and the Beast" is the highest grossing film of 2017 with over $1.2 billion, at the time of this publication. Although that is likely to be eclipsed by "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" when it hits theaters in a few weeks.

This film will be directed by Niki Caro. Caro directed such films as "McFarland USA," "North Country," and the widely praised, "Whale Rider." "North Country" earned Academy Award nominations for both Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand. "Whale Rider" earned a nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes at age 12.

The screenplay for "Mulan" has four credited writers: Lauren Hynek, Rick Jaffa ("Jurassic World"), Elizabeth Martin ("The Kennedy Women"), and Amanda Silver ("Jurassic World").

There is no word yet on additional casting decisions, but the film is slated for release in 2019.

What do you think of the choice of Liu Yifei as Mulan? Are you familiar with her work? Who else would you like to add to the cast? Share your thoughts below!

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