Chinese actress Liu Yifei, also known as Crystal Liu, has been cast as the titular character in Disney's live-action remake of Mulan following a year-long search. And though there were some concerns about potential white-washing during casting, Disney eased tensions in December 2016 when it announced that all the main characters, including Mulan, will be Chinese. And, so far, they have delivered on that promise — though none of the other actors have been revealed yet. Ming-Na Wen, the actress who originally voice the role in the 1998 animated film and advocated for a Chinese successor, also previously said that she would love to have a role in the new film, so keep your fingers crossed for that.
The casting call specifically requested actors who can speak both English and Mandarin Chinese. Other requirements for the character of Mulan included "a power of speed and coordination and sheer force" with martial arts training as an added bonus. No word yet on Liu Yifei's skills in that area, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, she has earned the nickname "Fairy Sister" among fans in China because of her "pure and innocent looks." The actress has also starred in some major films alongside Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cage, and Hayden Christensen. (She was even one of Teen Vogue's top choices for the gig.)
The Mulan remake will be directed by Niki Caro and is expected to be released in 2019.
Related: Disney's 'Mulan' Live-Action Remake Will Definitely Be a Musical
