Screenshot from channel Disney UK via YouTube.
Disney just dropped the trailer for the live-action Mulan movie and fans are going wild. Check it out below:
Chinese actress and singer Liu Yifei will be playing the titular role of Mulan. MovieWeb reports that Donnie Yen, Gong Li, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Tzi Ma, Jet Li, and Ron Yuan will be playing supporting roles.
Many have voiced their support this morning since the teaser aired during halftime of the FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
However, some are sad to see that the dragon Mushu was not in the trailer, leading to speculation that he won’t even appear in the actual film, and it also reconfirmed that the animated original love interest Li Shang will not be in the storyline at all. The announcement of the cast without Li Shang was made a while ago, but it was especially upsetting to some who considered Li Shang a bisexual icon, reported AsAmNews.
Related: Let’s Get Down to Business: The Latest Problem with the Live-Action Mulan
According to Insider, Yoson An will be playing Chen Honghui, a recruit in Commander Tung’s (Donnie Yen’s) unit who also serves as Mulan’s love interest.
There were also no musical numbers in the sneak peek, which worried fans as well.
Others responded to the backlash, pointing out that Mulan is the shining star of the movie and that we should focus on her:
Social media erupted several years ago when a spec script purchased by Disney for the live-action remake featured a White love interest who comes in to save the day. Eventually, Disney revealed that they brought in new writers with a script in which Mulan has a Chinese love interest.
“The spec script was a jumping-off point for a new take on the story that draws from both the literary ballad of Mulan and Disney’s 1998 animated film,” a source close to the production said. “Mulan is and will always be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese.”
Many are happy to support the movie and what appears to be Disney’s current efforts to make it more accurate to the original Chinese story.
Related: Vulture: Disney Will Make All Major Mulan Live Action Characters Chinese
According to Digital Spy, the movie is scheduled for release on March 27, 2020.
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