Live Action Mulan Fancast

Tevin Murphy October 10, 2016 Leave a Comment

From the moment the rumors of a live action adaption of Disney’s classic film Mulan began to swirl around the internet everyone has scrambled to casts their vote for who should be cast in the adaption. Well earlier this week it was officially confirmed that a live action adaption would be coming in 2018 which once again sparked a fancasting frenzy. Now you know it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t throw my hat into the ring and give my own casting choices to fill the movie. So sit back, buckle your seatbelts, and I hope you enjoy the ride ladies and gents.

Olivia Cheng// Fa Mulan

As the tale of Mulan is based in fact and Chinese history I found it really important to cast an actress that is Chinese for the role. Quite often the Asian community is treated as a monolith and some people subscribe to the belief that “as long as they’re Asian it’ll work”. It’s important that we remember that the Asian community is it a monolith and that they’re a group of people with just as much diversity and differences amongst themselves as the rest of us. That is why for the role of Fa Mulan I chose none other than Marco Polo’s Olivia Cheng.

Anyone who has watched Netflix’s fantastic show Marco Polo can tell you that Olivia Cheng is a force to be reckoned with from her fantastic acting abilities to her immense beauty and martial arts skills. When casting Mulan it’s important to remember that she’s a character of immense intelligence, courage, and a sense of not know exactly who she wants to be but she knows she doesn’t want to be what everyone expects of her.

2. Chow Yun Fat// Fa Zhou

As I said before as this story is based in fact and real history it was important to me to fill the cast with as many Chinese actors and actors of Chinese descent as I could and so for the role of Fa Zhou, Mulan’s father, I chose none other than the amazingly talented Chow Yun Fat.

I chose Chow because it’s easy to see him as a father figure and figure of authority and strength. When casting Zhou one has to remember that he has an immense sense of pride and honor that must be maintained. For Zhou honor for himself and his family is everything which is why even in his disabled state he was still willing to put on his armor and pick up his sword again to go to war for his country and family. It’s quite easy to see Chow in such a strong role.

Ming Na Wen// Fa Li

I wouldn’t dare do a fancast for Mulan and not include the original voice actor herself Ming Na Wen this for me is such a no brainer and such a beautiful way to pay homage to the past film while blazing a new trailer with the newest. Ming Na Wen is a fantastic actress and more than capable of playing Mulan’s strong and supportive mother.

4. Tsai Chin// Grandmother Fa

I wracked my brain trying to think of an older Chinese actress that could play Grandmother Fa and perfectly capture that sense of humor, wisdom, tradition, and youthfulness and then it hit me ….Tsai Chin. This is kind of funny because Tsai has played
Ming Na Wen’s mother on Agents of Shield so it’s only fitting that she plays her mother in law next. Tsai is one of those actresses that can do it all and for Grandmother Fa she’d have to tackle both comedic and dramatic scenes and I personally think she’d be fantastic

5. Eddie Murphy // Wushu
This is yet again one of those no brainer choices because Eddie Murphy’s voice is part of what made Mushu so iconic I think this is one of those few cases where you can say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

6. Remy Hii// Captain Li Shang

Some of you might have seen my Iron Fist fancast on my personal account and you may recognize Remy Hii as my choice for Danny Rand or you may recognize him as Prince Jingham from Netflix’s Marco Polo either way Remy is a fantastic actor. I chose Remy for Li Shang because A) I think they look just alike and B) Remy is capable of portraying a tough attitudinal character that only wants the best for everyone even if at times it means risking his own life to get it. In many ways I see a lot of Li Shang in Remy’s Marco Polo character Prince Jingham.

Donnie Yen// General Li

I chose Donnie Yen as General Li mainly because I adore Donnie Yen like really I stan this man cause he is the king of handing out ass whooping. Another reason I chose him is because I can totally see him being a father figure for Remy Hii’s Captain Li Shang. Donnie is a fantastic actor capable of conveying great emotion as well as excellently acting out layered characters.

8. Tom Wu // Emperor of China

First let me start by saying that Tom Wu is an immensely talented actor and his character Hundred Eyes on Marco Polo is easily my favorite character on the entire show. As Hundred eyes we see Tom as an actor convey great patience, resilience, restraint, calmness, and wisdom all traits associated with the Emperor of China. In the film he is a character of few words and great wisdom and understanding and I personally think that Tom Wu would OWN the role not to mention his voice is softer and sort of reserved which I think fits perfectly.

9. James Hong // Chi Fu

Hong is the original voice of Chi-Fu so I thought it fitting to have him return to the role.

10. Benedict Wong // Yao

From the moment I discovered Benedict Wong on Marco Polo I knew I’d then found an actor that I would watch whatever I saw then in. This man is literally one of 2 reasons I’m even going to the theater to see Doctor Strange. Benedict is one of those actors that can handle and slay whatever you put infront of him and I think the role of Yao would be a good and funny change for him. On Marco Polo we see his character Kublai Khan demonstrate and exhibit moments of great rage and anger and a general fedupness with idiocy and incompetence and I think he could bring a more comedic twist on that to Yao. Not to mention his voice is perfect mix of deep and gravely.

11. Chris Pang // Ling

Chris Pang can be both dramatic and hilarious not to mention he looks like a handsome version of Ling to me.

12. Darryl Quon// Chien-Po

This is another case of me casting the role based partially on the look and partially on talent. I think Darryl is the perfect mix on both when it comes to Chien-Po. Like you kinda just wanna pinch his cheeks.

13. Uli Latukefu// Shan Yu

Casting this role was a little complicated for me because I wanted to make sure that I castes the leader of the Huns racially correct, but as I started to Google the Huns the more it started to look like they weren’t really one race but a group of races that sort of formed this group together and identity. And in actuality Im not even sure if that is completely accurate. I wanted to cast Uli from the jump he was actually already written down for this role but before I put anything together I wanted to make sure there was some level of research put into it. I kept visualizing Uli playing a terrifying Shan Yu with Hayabusa seated on his shoulder.

14. Margaret Cho// The Matchmaker

Now before anyone says it I know earlier I said that I wanted to take a lot of care in casting Chinese actors for this film especially in major roles as this is a Chinese story and Asia is not a monolith, however with this casting from the moment I wrote the role down Margaret Cho is the only actress I’ve been able to see doing this role. I understand Cho is Korean and it isn’t my intention to upset anyone but I just can’t stop thinking about how hilarious this scene would be with Margaret Cho taking on the role of the Matchmaker.