
A Live-Action Mulan Fan Cast
March 31, 2015Following the success of the recently released Cinderella, Disney has added another live-action remake to their growing list that includes Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book. This time it’s the iconic tale of Mulan that’s getting the live action treatment, as The Hollywood Reporter reports that Disney bought a script by writing team Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek. Since the project is only in-development, no casting will be announced for some time, so instead I decided to do some wishful thinking and create my own Mulan fan cast. Here are my picks for just about the entire cast of Mulan – with the exception of Mushu who I can’t picture as anyone but Eddie Murphy.
Mulan
Whenever I’ve imagined a live-action Mulan, I’ve always always pictured Ziyi Zhang in one of her beautiful costumes from Memoirs of a Geisha. Alternatively, Li Bingbing is another good candidate.
Li Shang
Yes I have three choices for Shang. No, I couldn’t decide. Don’t judge me. Johnny Nguyen (a popular stunt actor/coordinator), Byung Hung Lee (G.I. Joe) and Godfrey Gao (The Mortal Instruments) all stand on equal ground for this role in my opinion.
Fa Li
It would perfection to see Ming-Na Wen – the original voice of Mulan – return as Mulan’s mother Fa Li. Elizabeth Sung (Memoirs of a Geisha) and Takayo Fischer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Memoirs of a Geisha) would make equally good motherly characters, but Ming-Na is still my top choice.
Fa Zhou
Depending on who would play Mulan, Daniel Dae Kim could seem too young for the part, but I still think he’d be an interesting choice for Mulan’s father Fa Zhou. Koji Yakusho would be pretty perfect too.
Grandmother Fa
For the incredibly sassy Grandmother Fa, I chose both Tsai Chin – who just so happened to play Agent May’s mother in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – and Lucille Soong, who currently appears as the grandmother on Fresh Off the Boat.
Ling
I could see either James Kyson (Heroes) or Chris Pang (I, Frankenstein) as Ling.
Chien-Po
Former sumo wrestler and Hawaii Five-O actor Teila Tuli (aka Taylor Wily) is my top choice for Chien-Po.
Yao
Yun-Fat Chow (Pirates of the Caribbean) as Yao – I didn’t need any other choices, he just seemed perfect.
Shan Yu
The only thing I love more than Ken Watanabe is Ken Watanabe playing a villain, and seeing him as Shan Yu, leader of the Huns, would be amazing. Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine) is tied for first on my list for this villain as well.
The Matchmaker
There is nothing I want more than Margaret Cho as the Matchmaker. You need a comedian in this role and I think she’d be hilarious. Hawaiian actress Loretta Ables (Hawaii Five-O) is also on my list, partially because she can do the perfect “quietly judging you” face.
The Emperor of China
My top choice for the Emperor of China would have to be Togo Igawa (47 Ronin, Memoirs of a Geisha).
Chi-Fu
Andy Lau (Firestorm) or Will Yun Lee (The Wolverine) as Chi-Fu, Shang’s advisor and a member of the Emperor’s council.
General Li
Ahn Sung-Ki (Sector 7) and Kenneth Tsang (Rush Hour 2) are my top two choices for General Li, Shang’s father.
Fa Ancestors
I’d like to see James Hong, Jackie Chan and George Takei all appear as the Fa Ancestors. I think it’d be hilarious to see some of the most infamous Asian actors bickering amongst themselves about petty family issues. It wouldn’t be that far of a stretch either – Takei actually did voice the main ancestor in the 1998 animated film while James Hong voiced Chi-Fu.
Nice fancast. It’s kinda diffcult to find Chinese actress that is below 20 (ain’t Mulan still 16?)