Alright friends, he’s no Li Shang, but we’ve officially got our male lead for the upcoming live-action Mulan extravaganza and his name is Yosan An. He’s a Kiwi lad of Chinese descent and will play the… interesting sounding Chen Honghui.
Born in China, An immigrated to New Zealand at a young age and kicked off his acting career in 2012.
The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported the role which will undoubtedly be An’s big break. His previous roles include Grace, a series on HBO Asia, Ghost Bride, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.
Yosan An, we’re sure you’re a beautiful delight but who is Chen Honghui and where is SHANG!?
An will join Liu Yifei, who has stepped into the main role of Hua Mulan.
As per the details on the casting call, Mulan lives in China in 630AD when her life is changed forever after the Gokturk invade the country.
“When her ageing father volunteers to join the Army, Mulan sneaks out by night and takes his place, strapping down her breasts so she can pass for a man.”
Directed by Niki Caro (Whale Rider), the film also stars Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Rogue One) as Commander Tung, Mulan’s mentor. Jet Li will play the emperor while Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha, Miami Vice) will play the film’s villain.
It’s an excellent cast but to strip the film of fierce, glorious, awkward Shang brings such dishonour upon our houses.
Shang, the man worth fighting for, was nowhere to be seen on the casting call when it was released earlier this year. Instead, he was replaced by this Chen Honghui dude. According to the casting call Honghui’s “full of himself, with a mean, bullying streak to him…” everything you’re looking for in a dream man.
“He quickly realises that Mulan is his chief rival, but he does not realise that she is a woman. Grittily determined to be simply the best at everything, Honghui is increasingly peeved by Mulan’s ability to match or out-maneuver him. But after learning that his rival is a woman, his intense feelings of rivalry turn into something very different, something like love.”
Will Honghui be as swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon? Will he have the strength of a raging fire? Will he be as mysterious as the dark side of the moon?
Here’s bloody hoping.
Mulan is set for release March 27, 2020.
