After the 1998 animated release of Disney's "Mulan," the movie is finally getting a live action treatment from the studio. There has been some controversy about whitewashing the lead roles but Disney has assured fans it's bent on casting a Chinese female actress for the titular role.
Now, speculations are going around about the studio looking to make Mulan's love interest a white man. Are there any truths to these talks? What does Disney really have to say about their choice for "Mulan" leads?
The rumor regarding casting a white male love interest for "Mulan" stemmed from an open letter written on the Angry Asian Man. The site alleged that a "Mulan" script has been leaked, which details that the character will be falling in love with a much older white male.
@angryasianman I can back you up on what you're saying. I confirm everything you said about that draft.
— Joel de la Fuente (@joeldelafuente) October 10, 2016
The "Mulan" script apparently indicates that a European trader will be helping out the Chinese Imperial army, and has decided to stick around because one of its men has fallen in love with Mulan. However, the said "Mulan" script leak is actually just spec script, which industry insiders use for auditions or tests and nothing more. "Mulan is and will always be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese," a source privy to the project at Disney told Vanity Fair.
The spec script that generated controversy about Mulan's white love interest was only ever meant to be a "jumping-off point," source says — Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) October 10, 2016
"Mulan" details the story of a young woman who doesn't seem to be marriage material in their culture. She takes the place of her father in the Chinese army's battle against the Huns by posing as a man. She meet an officer, Capt. Li Shang, whom she eventually falls in love with.
Disney's live action "Mulan" will be based off this Chinese legendary heroine, whose life story was written as a poem in "The Ballad of Mulan." It is believed to have been published in the sixth century. The animated film is also based on this poem but the live action version is going to add more elements that were not part of the 1998 movie. The upcoming live action take is set to be released in theaters in 2018.
