Disney's live-action "Mulan"

[JP]

If Lana Condor does decent work as Jubilee and gets noticed, she could very well fill the role. If she gets noticed.

My immediate thought was Condor.


Actually my first thought was "I hope they don't cast Jamie Chung" before realizing they already did.

 

[terry78]

I'm trying to think who could be cast as Shang but a lot of Asian dudes in the acting game I know are either too old for it or don't really fit the brawny look. They may just get somebody that's big over in China. It's a few I'm probably forgetting.

 

[PacificBoy]

Two Korean Americans, Dennis Oh and Daniel Henney look the part. Both in their 30s and are built. Taiwanese born Canadian Godfrey Gao of The Mortal Instruments fame (or infamy to be more exact) is another.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm trying to think who could be cast as Shang but a lot of Asian dudes in the acting game I know are either too old for it or don't really fit the brawny look. They may just get somebody that's big over in China. It's a few I'm probably forgetting.

Taylor Kitsch or Sam Worthington with painted-on slanty eyebrows. I'm calling it right now.

 

[terry78]

Hey, it worked for John Wayne.

 

[Loki882]

No, it most definitely did not. Ridley Scott may not realize that we're not living in the 1950's anymore, but I'd hope to God that Disney does.

 

[Pink Ranger]

No, it most definitely did not. Ridley Scott may not realize that we're not living in the 1950's anymore, but I'd hope to God that Disney does.

Maybe, but it wouldn't shock me if Shang is turned into "James," a British mercenary who's put in charge of training the Chinese soldiers.

 

[Lencho01]

Taylor Kitsch or Sam Worthington with painted-on slanty eyebrows. I'm calling it right now.

That actually makes me wonder... would they shoehorn in some White actor (playing a White person) in this?

 

[Drizzle]

That actually makes me wonder... would they shoehorn in some White actor (playing a White person) in this?

I really don't think they would. Disney is smarter than that these days. The only role I could see being played by a non-Asian actor is Mushu, but that would be voice-only.

 

[flickchick85]

Maybe, but it wouldn't shock me if Shang is turned into "James," a British mercenary who's put in charge of training the Chinese soldiers.

Sadly, this doesn't sound like an unrealistic possibility at all.

 

[JP]

Let's hope Ridley Scott doesn't direct.

 

[terry78]

I feel pretty confident they're gonna go with Kevin Hart. He's like the closest thing to a Murphy right now.

 

[kencana]

Maybe, but it wouldn't shock me if Shang is turned into "James," a British mercenary who's put in charge of training the Chinese soldiers.

Not surprised. And there's a romance between them where 'James' rescued Mulan several times because gurrl power but not so much gurrl power.

Remember Frozen? Don't get me wrong, I love Frozen but Disney changed Kristoff gender. In the original Snow Queen tale, 'Anna' companion is supposed to be a (dark skin) robber girl but Disney decided to change the gender because they want to shoehorned heterosexual romance

 

[PacificBoy]

I feel pretty confident they're gonna go with Kevin Hart. He's like the closest thing to a Murphy right now.

Kevin Hart's voice paired with

would be rad.

 

[Silvermoth]

Maybe they won't even give mushu a voice? Didn't some of the animals talk in the original cinderella but not in he live action version?

Maybe, but it wouldn't shock me if Shang is turned into "James," a British mercenary who's put in charge of training the Chinese soldiers.

Urgh, let's hope not. I am quite looking forward to seeing a good representation of asian men beyond emasculated or cliche.

Or Red Cliff. God was that movie gorgeous.

I've always wanted to see that. I'll have to add it to my list

 

[PacificBoy]

So I guess no one wants Ridley Scott directing with Liam Hemsworth as the anglicized Shane.

 

[Steelsheen]

i want Ming Na to be in this movie. i dont care as who JUST GET HER IN IT

also before y'all start going off casting every cute Asian chick under 30 as Mulan, folks remember that Mulan should pass for a BOY. so not only should this actress be able to carry a film, get the drama right, pull off some badass stunts-- but also by appearance and aura, she should at the very least be androgynous.

so if they can find a Asian Angelina Jolie we should be good.

good luck with that

 

[JP]

Maybe they won't even give mushu a voice? Didn't some of the animals talk in the original cinderella but not in he live action version?

I guarantee this.

 

[Pink Ranger]

i want Ming Na to be in this movie. i dont care as who JUST GET HER IN IT

also before y'all start going off casting every cute Asian chick under 30 as Mulan, folks remember that Mulan should pass for a BOY. so not only should this actress be able to carry a film, get the drama right, pull off some badass stunts-- but also by appearance and aura, she should at the very least be androgynous.

so if they can find a Asian Angelina Jolie we should be good.

good luck with that

Pretty much any young, thin woman can pass herself as a young man without makeup and hair, seriously.

 

[JP]

The casting for this is going to be so interesting. Despite our worst fears, I don't think Disney is going to be stupid enough to make inaccurate casting decisions, but I wonder if they'll exclusively stick to Chinese/Chinese American actors, or if it will be more open?

I remember the Memoirs of a Geisha film got a lot of flack because some of the cast (Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh) weren't Japanese.

 

[kvz5]

My guess is they're going with an Asian/American.

Maybe, but it wouldn't shock me if Shang is turned into "James," a British mercenary who's put in charge of training the Chinese soldiers.

I'm almost sure they'd do this.

 

[Loki882]

Plus China is a huge emerging market that many studios want to tap into. Hence why they're taking pains not to offend China too much. Red Dawn changed the villains of their film from Chinese to North Koreans, Days of Future Past cast one of the biggest stars in China to play Blink and set most of the "future" scenes in a Chinese monastery, and Iron Man 3 filmed additional scenes specifically for the Chinese version. Hell even notorious flag-stroker Michael Bay moved the last act of Age of Extinction to China for some dumb reason and portrayed the Chinese government as being really badass/efficient. So I don't doubt that Disney would try and do something similar.

In regards to Memoirs of a Geisha, as I recall the big controversy was that Chinese actors were playing Japanese parts. Japan doesn't have a great history with, well most of the Pacific Rim countries/territories, at least pre-1945. So I wonder if, say that they cast Korean or Vietnamese actors, would the outcry be nearly as loud/vociferous?

 

[kvz5]

I've seen Chloe Bennet being suggested elsewhere and I can definitely see them pursuing her.

 

[Pink Ranger]

The casting for this is going to be so interesting. Despite our worst fears, I don't think Disney is going to be stupid enough to make inaccurate casting decisions, but I wonder if they'll exclusively stick to Chinese/Chinese American actors, or if it will be more open?

I remember the Memoirs of a Geisha film got a lot of flack because some of the cast (Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh) weren't Japanese.

As an Asian person, I'm sick and tired of that debate. Sean Connery played an English spy, an Egyptian swordsman and a Russian naval captain. The best Batman so far has been a Welsh-Cockney guy. Sheriff Rick Grimes is English. Scarlett Johannsen is a Russian secret agent. Antonio Banderas is Spanish but has played Mexican or South American many times. Don Cheadle is not a Hutu.

Get over it, Asian bloggers. You bring shame to your family!

 

[PWN3R]

I haven't seen Cinderella yet, but I was hoping Mulan would be the next live action venture and this news is great. Don't really have huge expectations other than 'I'll Make A Man Out of You' being in it somewhere. I don't care how, but it better be in there, damn it.