LOS ANGELES: Disney has finally found a lead for its live-action movie ‘Mulan’.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Chinese actress Liu Yifei, also known as Crystal Liu, is set to star in Disney’s live-action adaptation of the classic Chinese tale ‘Mulan’.
A team of casting directors visited five continents and saw nearly 1,000 candidates for the role, which requires credible martial arts skills, the ability to speak English and star quality.
This new take on the warrior woman sees a young woman disguise herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army against the backdrop of fifth-century China.
The movie is being directed by Niki Caro and produced by Chris Bender, Jason Reed, and Jake Weiner.
The movie is eyeing a 2019 release.
The English-language version of the original ‘Mulan’ (1998) featured the voices of Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer, and BD Wong, while Jackie Chan voiced Chinese dubs of the movie.
The film went on to earn USD 304.3 million worldwide.
Liu, nicknamed ‘Fairy Sister’ in China, is one of her native country’s most popular actresses.
Since breaking out in various television shows in the 2000s, she has appeared in successful films like ‘The Forbidden Kingdom’ (with Jackie Chan and Jet Li), ‘White Vengeance’, ‘Outcast’ (with Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen) and ‘Ip Man 3’. (ANI)