| Advertisement |
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Disney will reportedly cast an Asian love interest in its live-action Mulan. Sources told Vulture the movie will feature a Chinese love interest for the female warrior, despite rumors of a Caucasian male lead.
Advertisement
Reports had circulated Monday that a "30-something European trader" would romance Mulan in the film. Insiders later told Vulture the character appeared in a first draft of the script that has since been changed.
"The spec script was a jumping-off point for a new take on the story that draws from both the literary ballad of Mulan and Disney's 1998 animated film," a source explained.
"Mulan is and always will be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese," the insider added.
Mulan is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a young woman who disguised herself as a man to take her father's place in war. The Hollywood Reporter previously said that Disney is "launching a global casting search" for a Chinese actress to play Mulan.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Ming Na-Wen voiced Mulan in the 1998 animated Disney movie. The 52-year-old actress was thrilled to hear the new casting report after initially being upset about the rumored Caucasian male lead.
"So many outraged fans have tweeted me about this. It's upsetting & wrong. Hoping it's NOT true. #Mulan," she tweeted before later writing, "Thank Buddha! I applaud @Disney @DisneyStudios for going in the right direction with #Mulan!"
