Following a year of casting searches around the globe, Disney’s live-action Mulan reboot has finally found its star in Liu Yifei.
The Chinese actress is now set to portray the unimpeachably badass title character, who masquerades as a male soldier to take her father’s place on the battlefield.
The 30-year-old was cast for Disney’s latest retelling of the classic Chinese legend after an exhaustive search process.
In addition to seeking someone who could fill the part in a culturally appropriate way, Disney also wanted someone with believable martial arts skills. Her turn in 2008’s The Forbidden Kingdom alongside none other than Jackie Chan and Jet Li went a long way to filling that requirement.
Liu has acted in other English-language films too, including a role in The Chinese Widow opposite Emile Hirsch.
Her appointment comes after the selection of Whale Rider and The Zookeeper’s Wife director Niki Caro. Other roles are yet to be divvied up, with Disney yet to announce who could possibly replace Eddie Murphy as Mushu – if the snappy dragon even makes a comeback.
News of Liu’s leading role comes after Disney announced its jam-packed The Lion King line-up, and revealed Mena Massoud as its new Aladdin.
Mulan is set for release some time in 2019.
