Disney announced "Mulan" returning to theaters with a live-action movie and they are now launching a global casting search for a Chinese actress to play the titular role. Although the script is still in the works, it is already scheduled to debut on November 2, 2018.
"Mulan" is one of the most loved Disney classic films in the '90s. It is based on a Chinese story of Hua Mulan who decided to disguise herself as a man so her father will not have to join the army for war. Mulan and Pocahontas are among the few Disney movie who didn't need a prince or a male hero to save the day.
"Jurassic World" screenwriters Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa are said to be already working on the script while Chris Bender, Jake Weiner, and Jason Reed will be producing the movie.
"Mulan" is not the first Disney classic animation movie turned into a live-action film. From "Maleficent," "Cinderella," "The Jungle Book" and the upcoming "Beauty and the Beast," all are remakes which proved to be a success. To date, all Disney live-action features ranked in the top 10 films at the U.S. box office since 2014.
It can be remembered that a petition has been made for Disney not to "whitewash" the movie and cast a Chinese actress to play "Mulan." The petition garnered over 100,000 signatures and gained more exposure when Sony was also reported to be doing a live-action movie of "Mulan". Doug Belgrad of Sony Pictures said the "shoot predominantly or exclusively in China with a Chinese partner and a mostly Chinese cast."
Issues about "whitewashing" casts in Hollywood started when Scarlett Johansson was chosen to play Motoko Kusanagi in "Ghost in the Shell," Matt Damon for "The Great Wall" and Tilda Swinton for her role in "Doctor Strange"
